Explosive performance! 23 out of 31 shots made in three games! The Clippers have finally found the key to using him.

Two-handed dunks smashing the rim under the basket.

Hitting three-pointers in succession.

In the recent three games, Collins has been a consistent starter, shooting 23 for 31 in live play (74%), with 9 of 13 from three-point range (69%), averaging 19.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1 block per game. Tyronn Lue has finally figured out how to utilize him properly.

Earlier, due to the Clippers’ poor record and his underwhelming performance, trade rumors about him were rampant, but now those voices have quieted down significantly.

Collins was born on September 23, 1997, a 2017 first-round 19th pick, standing 2.06 meters tall as a power forward with exceptional athleticism and a well-rounded offensive skill set.This season, he is under contract with a salary of $26.58 million.So far, he has played 35 games, starting 26, averaging 27.2 minutes per game, contributing 12.9 points and 5 rebounds, with shooting percentages of 53.9% field goals, 38.3% three-pointers, and 81.8% free throws.

Last offseason, Collins was traded to the Clippers in a three-team deal involving the Jazz (Jeff Green + Kyle Korver + a second-round pick), while the Heat received Powell.

Indeed, the Clippers gave up last season’s starting shooting guard Powell to strengthen their traditionally weak power forward spot by acquiring Collins, also avoiding negotiating a high-paying long-term contract with Powell this summer, thus preserving salary cap space for the summer of 2027 when both Harden and Leonard’s contracts expire.

However, as mentioned, Collins is also eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer, so the Clippers might consider trading him before the February 6 trade deadline to avoid losing him for nothing, though they might also choose to hold onto him to maintain their current performance.

The Clippers currently stand 12th in the Western Conference with a 13-23 record, trailing the 10th-place Grizzlies by 3.5 games. Since this year’s unprotected first-round pick belongs to the Thunder, they have no choice but to aggressively pursue the play-in tournament to avoid helping others, making it difficult to part with Collins, who has become an important team member.

Since they can’t define their future just yet, the focus is on making the most of the present moment.