NBA Free Agency 2013: Top 10 Biggest Surprises So Far

Apr 17, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Darren Collison (4) drives against New Orleans Hornets forward Al-Farouq Aminu (0) at American Airlines Center. The Mavs beat the Hornets 99-87. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

7. Darren Collison

From: Dallas Mavericks

To: Los Angeles Clippers

Contract: 2 years/$3.9 million

Rationale: Darren Collison is a 25-year-old point guard with an impeccable pedigree and elite horizontal athleticism (i.e. speed) who can shoot (.463/.360/.862 career) and pass (5.2 assists career in under 30 minutes per game). Obviously, there are also reasons that Collison will make less than Nate Robinson, who is three inches shorter and four years older, over the next seasons. Still, Collison is coming off the most productive season of his career (at least according to advanced statistics), and he is young enough to hope for, if not expect, improvement. Proximity to Chris Paul should help: Collison was at his best starting for the injured Paul during his rookie season. Collison was due for a raise–instead he’ll take a cut in both pay and playing time.