'Unretired' Darren Collison joins Lakers on 10-day contract
Having not played with a team since the end of the 2019, some will find the hardship exemption signing of Collison surprising, but this is the effect of covid-19 today.
In a move that emphasizes the Lakers' continued roster problems, they have acquired a player who has come out of retirement.
Darren Collison 'unretires' to join Lakers
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According to reports on Friday the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Darren Collison on a 10-day contract. The signing marks an intriguing move on both the part of the Lakers and Collison himself. Collison previously announced his retirement suddenly in 2019. Though there were several free-agent offers at the time and reportedly in the realm of $10 million annually, Collison who is now 34, shocked the league by leaving it after completing the 2018-19 season with the Indiana Pacers. Collison, who signed a hardship exemption, is expected to face the Brooklyn Nets in Saturday's game. It is understood that he participated in training with the Lakers recently at the team's practice facility. Incidentally the Lakers also signed free-agent forward Stanley Johnson to a 10-day hardship exemption.
The Lakers are planning to sign Darren Collison and Stanley Johnson to 10-day hardship deals, sources tell ESPN. The Lakers are hopeful they'll be available for the Christmas Day game vs. Brooklyn.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 24, 2021
The Lakers aren't doing great
Though Collison had previously discussed returning to the NBA during his time away - including with the Lakers - his signing under a hardship exemption is testament to the severity of the unrest cause by covid-19 with not just the Lakers, but the league as a whole. As for the Lakers themselves, they have an immediate issue to address being their play making and their bench, which is made all the more difficult by the fact that they have numerous players in covid-19 protocols, including guard Malik Monk. That is of course without mentioning that they now sit on a 16-17 record having lost their last four consecutive games.