Clippers' John Collins uncertain about future after playoff exit

The veteran forward is set to hit free agency this offseason after a season of fluctuating roles in LA.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:41am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented, multi-angled view of a basketball game, with the players and court broken down into abstract shapes and colors.The Clippers' early playoff exit leaves the team's future uncertain, with key decisions to be made about veteran forward John Collins' free agency.Los Angeles Today

The LA Clippers were formally eliminated from playoff contention following their 126-121 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the opening round of the play-in tournament. Questions about the Clippers roster moving forward will certainly come up in the offseason, and one major order of business is the pending free agency of veteran forward John Collins.

Why it matters

Collins was acquired in an offseason trade and played a key role for the Clippers this season, but his future with the team remains uncertain as he approaches unrestricted free agency. The Clippers will have several roster decisions to make this offseason after failing to reach the playoffs.

The details

Collins finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, two steals and one blocked shot in 21 minutes of play against the Warriors. He shot 5-of-8 from the field and 1-of-3 from the 3-point line. Collins' role often fluctuated this season, alternating between coming off the bench and starting. By the time the Clippers' got relatively healthy, he was back to his reserve role. He appeared in 69 games, including 56 starts, at a little over 27 minutes per game. He averaged 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists with splits of 55.2 percent shooting from the field, 40.6 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 76.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

  • The LA Clippers were formally eliminated from playoff contention following their 126-121 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the opening round of the play-in tournament.

The players

John Collins

A veteran forward who was acquired by the Clippers in an offseason trade and is set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer.

Golden State Warriors

The team that defeated the Clippers 126-121 in the opening round of the play-in tournament, eliminating the Clippers from playoff contention.

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What they’re saying

“'For sure … I put my heart and soul into wherever I'm at, at the time, and I built those bonds and those relationships with the coaches, team, people that I'm here with. I'd love to just extend it and continue to grow those relationships, but I just understand the other side of the business. But again, enjoyed my time here, enjoyed the basketball here. Aim to grow and learn a lot, and see what the future holds.'”

— John Collins, Clippers forward

What’s next

The Clippers will have several key roster decisions to make this offseason, including whether to re-sign John Collins, who is set to hit unrestricted free agency.

The takeaway

The Clippers' early playoff exit raises questions about the team's future, with veteran forward John Collins' free agency being a major issue to address. Collins expressed uncertainty about his future but said he enjoyed his time in LA and hopes to continue building relationships with the team.