The Los Angeles Clippers are preparing for a great run in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
It was the time when the LA Clippers won, as Kawhi Leonard and James Harden are not getting younger.
One such move helped to acquire John Collins by engaging in three-team trade with the Miami Heat and the Utah Jazz, primarily by saying goodbye to Norman Powell.
Powell feels betrayed by trade, but what about Collins? Well, NBA analyst Tim McMahon dropped an astonishing verdict with his 27-year-old Jazz farewell method.
Despite averaging 19.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, the Jazz decided to say goodbye to Collins.
This move comes as a shock given that he has excellent numbers, but McMahon has proposed a logical reason behind this move.
“The problem with John Collins in Utah was that he was too productive last season. I don’t remember all the injuries he forced to stop playing,” McMahon told the Hoop Collective Podcast.
“They limited him to 40 games last year. He played less than half of his schedule, but he played over 70% of his wins. They didn’t win much, but they won too often with John Collins in the lineup.
“He was the reason. They had to drive him away. They couldn’t put him on the roster,” McMahon added.
Contributing to a victory is usually considered a positive trait for NBA players. However, this is not the case when an organization is trying to turn it into a tank.
The Jazz is certainly trying to rebuild their roster through lottery picks, so winning too many games could hinder their progress.
If the Jazz is about to turn into a tank, the Clippers are on the exact opposite of the spectrum – they are about to win the NBA championship.
With that in mind, Collins’ arrival certainly can enhance the Clippers’ chances coming out of the loaded Western Conference.
But as far as his role is concerned, Collins may have to get out of the Clippers’ bench. After all, the team has Leonard as their starting power forward.
As a result, Collins will likely lead the second unit when Kawi is on the bench. If Klaw was injured or missed the game, Collins could win the starting role under coach Tyronn Lue.