Suddenly, Jason Collins has become an intriguing free agent prospect. And questions may arise if he is not signed.
Multiple media entities have reported that the Los Angeles Clippers have joined the Brooklyn Nets in checking about the services of the 7-foot center who announced he was gay in April.
The New York Daily News' Frank Isola tweeted about the Clippers' interest, according to nba.si.com.
But ESPN New York reported that the holdup in Collins' signing with either team is the sudden free agency of Glen "Big Baby" Davis, who finalized a contract buyout with the Orlando Magic and will become an unrestricted free agent on Monday if he clears waivers.
Both the Nets and Clippers are trying to land Davis, ESPN New York reported, and the franchise that misses out on Davis will be back to considering Collins.
Collins played with Nets coach Jason Kidd, and he played for Doc Rivers last season with the Celtics. NewYork.cbslocal.com posted audio of Kidd talking to WFAN radio, in which he talked about the possibility of signing Collins.
When asked how the Nets might respond to Collins' presence, Kidd said, "It's not a worry.
"It's about basketball," Kidd said. "And for him, the opportunity to help (whether) it's the Nets or any other NBA team, which I think he can do."
Rivers said last year that Collins had told him he was going to announce that he is gay.
"He told me he was coming out and I told him, 'Great. Good. Let's move forward,'" Rivers said, according to the New York Post as reposted by NewYork.cbslocal.com. Rivers left Boston to coach the Clippers in June. "I jokingly said 'I wish you could've got me more rebounds, because that's all I care about, really.' "
The Nets have insisted that the marketing or publicity aspect is not part of the consideration in signing Collins.
However, the team that doesn't sign Davis now is in danger of becoming vilified if it doesn't sign Collins.
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