Darren Collison, Sacramento Kings
Position: Point Guard
Age: 28
Salary: $5,013,559
Slash Line: .454/.349/.868
Season Averages: 29.0 MPG, 13.4 PPG, 4.4 APG, 2.2 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 1.1 3PM
When it comes to Sacramento Kings point guards, the player New York Knicks fans most commonly ask for is Rajon Rondo. Rondo, the league leader in assists per game, has improved his shooting to the point of appealing to the trade-hungry masses.
A player whom the Knicks should at least consider is Rondo’s backup: Darren Collison.
Collison is good enough to start in the NBA, albeit on a team that doesn’t ask him to be a star. He’s a solid facilitator, a committed defender, an agile dribble-penetrator, a respectable shooter, and a lethal threat in transition who’s No. 8 in the NBA in fast break points per game.
Between his speed and the versatile ability to do just about everything, Collison more than earns his $5-plus million per season.
The hurdle here is the potential for New York to take on a salary when it’s hoping to clear space. He’ll make $5,229,454 in 2016-17, the final season of his current contract, and while that may not be a massive amount, it’d limit cap space if the Knicks are unable to trade Jose Calderon.
If New York is able to move Calderon, then Collison would be the must-have option on this list.
Next: A Low-Cost Gamble