HoopsHype.com Rumors

Donnie Nelson: “We’ve been spoiled with Jason Kidd and Steve Nash before, and I think the point guard position is just a really important one. I’d say that that’s up there. That’s no disrespect to anyone. Darren Collison did a terrific job with a tough situation, and we would certainly be open to the conversation of him coming back.” Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Darren Collison, Donnie Nelson 

Darren Collison believed he would be a full-time starter but wound up starting 47 games. Would he mind returning to Dallas in a reserve role? "I'm not going to say no, because I definitely experienced it, and I'm capable of playing off the bench," Collison said. "At the same time, I just know who I am as a person and as a player. I know I'm capable of playing for any team as a starter." Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Darren Collison 

Darren Collison entered the season as the Dallas Mavericks starting point guard. During the final 23 games of the year, the 25-year-old came off the bench. Playing in the final year of his contract, some might think Collison and his agent have discussed a departure from Dallas. "To be honest, we haven't had too many discussions about anything, as of yet," Collison said during Thursday's end- of-season interviews at American Airlines Center. "I'm sure we are in the next few days or so, but as of right now, we haven't." Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Darren Collison 

It was about a month ago when Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle told Darren Collison he was going to bring him off the bench instead of keeping him as his starting point guard. The news was not what Collison wanted to hear. “I think everybody knows how I took it,” Collison said. “If anybody demoted you guys at your job I don’t think you guys will be too happy about it. “That’s just the competitor that I am. But at the same time I’ve always been a team player.” Collison tried to take the demotion in stride. “At the end of the day you’ve just got to try to handle it classy and don’t try to put yourself in front of the team,” Collison said. “This is about the team. “Whatever Coach says, that’s Coach’s decision. I’ve got to be professional about it and go out there on the court and try to play.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Darren Collison 

Meanwhile, Carlisle has always considered Collison as one of his starters, even if he doesn’t start. “He’s a virtual starter for us,” Carlisle said. “And we’ve got two or three of them off the bench with him and Vince [Carter], and Brandan Wright now is kind of in that category. “But right now, for point guards coming off the bench, he’s as good as anybody in this league. He’s taking pride in it, he’s working at it to help the team, so I’m really impressed with how his approach hasn’t changed this year.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Darren Collison 

Me: What offensive adjustments has Rick made this year? Dirk Nowitzki: I think honestly, he's been hard on (Darren) Collison and (O.J.) Mayo all year. He's challenged them to be better decision-makers on pick and rolls, on the fastbreak. I think both of them have made tremendous strides from earlier in the season. I think with Coach (Jim) O'Brien implementing his offense, we're playing a lot more movement. We're one of the fastest-paced teams in the league. I think we were number one for a while; I'm not sure if we still are. But we really like to push it now with our guards. If we don't have the break, we like to move it. Five guys touching it, swing it, pick and roll. If it's nothing on the first side, move it, get another pick and roll. It's a fun way to play. Everybody's sharing it, less pounding, less iso. We all know that at the end of the game, when the game slows down, there will be some pick and rolls and some isos. But in the course of the game we're trying to keep the pace up and it's been working for us. NBA.com

Dallas Mavericks, OJ Mayo, Darren Collison, Dirk Nowitzki, Rick Carlisle 

The reaction in the Mavericks’ locker room was mixed about the play former teammate Dahntay Jones had against Kobe Bryant on Wednesday night. Jones, who was traded to Atlanta for Anthony Morrow last month, stepped under Bryant at the end of the Hawks’ win. Bryant said it was a dangerous and dirty play. Jones said it was good defense. “It was a 50-50 play,” said Brandan Wright. Added Darren Collison: “Tough play. That’s all I can say about it.” Dallas Morning News

Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Darren Collison, Anthony Morrow, Dahntay Jones, Brandan Wright 

As Collison laid on the floor writhing in pain, play continued and the Milwaukee Bucks scored. The Mavs subsequently called timeout, and Collison received some medical attention and stayed in the game after he got poked in his left eye. Some two hours later in the locker room -- after the Mavs defeated the Bucks, 115-108 -- Collison said: "I can barely see right now. They said it's going to be like that for awhile. "I tried to play through it, but when I was guarding Monta (Ellis) I saw two Monta's. One Monta is already a problem, but not two.'' Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Darren Collison, Injuries 

The Mavericks will face tough decisions after this season with Collison and O.J. Mayo. In Collison’s case, he’s shooting better than ever with career-best percentages across the board. It’s been an enlightening year for him on the court. And it wouldn’t bother Collison a bit if he got a chance to do it again. While it will be up to management to make the ultimate decision for the free-agent-to-be, Collison feels like this is home. “I hope so,” he said when asked if he wanted to stick around long term. “I love Dallas. I love the fans. The fans have been good to me, and the organization has been real good to me. Coach has worked with me and helped me be a better player every day. I haven’t had that in a long time.” Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Darren Collison 

ben ... Three years from now is Darren Collison still starting at point guard for the Mavs? Eddie Sefko: Nope. I'm not even sure he's starting three games from now. If any of you believe the trade talk coming out of Mark Cuban, Rick Carlisle and Donnie Nelson, you don't know the decision-makers at the top of the organization. Anybody and everybody, save for Nowitzki and Brand, is available for the right price. But I don't blame the Mavericks a bit for playing hardball and demanding a hefty return for some of their best veterans. And if they don't get it, move along. Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Trade, Darren Collison, Mark Cuban, Donnie Nelson, Rick Carlisle 

Hard coaching. It’s something that fits Rick Carlisle better than his favorite sweatpants. When he had Jason Kidd and Jason Terry and the rest of a mostly veteran team, Carlisle didn’t have to pull out the hard-coaching card very often. This season, it’s different, with O.J. Mayo and Darren Collison as prime exhibits. “Me and O.J., we’ve had a lot of tough love from Coach,” Collison said Wednesday. “He’s been in our face since Day One. And it’s all about learning. He just wants us to get better. Some coaches let young guards get their way. Rick is tough. But he’s not tough to the point where you can’t handle situations. “Then again, you got to have tough skin to play under a guy like Rick Carlisle. Most NBA players, they don’t like to hear criticism. They don’t like to hear the truth. But if you’re trying to get better, that’s what you got to hear.” Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Darren Collison, Rick Carlisle 

“All the time, every day,” Mayo said when asked if Carlisle could be brutally honest. “They [the film sessions] have been good for me. I asked for it. Every game, whether it’s good or bad, let’s look at the game and see where I can get better.” Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Darren Collison, Rick Carlisle 

Dwain Price: #Mavs point guard Darren Collison: "The only thing that hurts me the most is the fact that we’re losing games. We're all losing games." Twitter @DwainPrice

Dallas Mavericks, Darren Collison 

Dallas kicked the tires of several veteran point guards before bringing in Derek Fisher in late November, a clear vote of no confidence in Collison, who arrived with great fanfare in a deal with the Pacers. But Collison fell fast, though he's been more productive coming off the bench behind Fisher. NBA.com

Dallas Mavericks, Trade, Darren Collison 

Bryan Gutierrez: Carlisle on Fisher: "He’s probably going to be our starting point guard. We’ve got a great situation with him and Collison." Twitter

Dallas Mavericks, Derek Fisher, Darren Collison 

There is another transaction coming, as Dallas already has 15 guaranteed guys. Don’t hold your breath for Fisher to come here in a way that triggers a noteworthy trade. For those speculating that Collison will be the odd man out, he’s certainly not talking that way. “I think his leadership will help,” Collison said of Fisher “He’s been around the NBA for a very, very long time. He’s going to help me grow into the player I want to be.’’ CBS

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Derek Fisher, Darren Collison 

Guard OJ Mayo and Collison were the only Mavs players who had started all 14 games going into the contest against the Sixers. Now, that list includes only Mayo. And no one expects Collison to be happy about losing his starting status. “You can only control so much,’’ Collison said. “At the end of the day coach is going to make a decision. “He’s made plenty of rotation switches throughout this whole coaching thing.’’ Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Darren Collison 

Collison said he was glad to see his teammates come to his defense when they learned he was not starting against the Sixers. “Everybody knows how hard I worked in the offseason,’’ Collison said. “My teammates, they stood behind me. “I’m not in for all that drama stuff. At the end of the day I’m a team player and I’m very positive, and I’m going to make a negative into a positive situation.’’ Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Darren Collison 

The Mavs acquired Dahntay Jones and Collison in a sign-and-trade with the Pacers for center Ian Mahinmi, who scored seven points in 13 minutes Friday. Asked if he was emotional in returning to Indiana after he guided the Pacers to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last year, Collison said: "A little bit, but for the most part I got my big issues to worry about with this team.'' Those "big issues'' include helping the Mavs out of a slump that has seen them drop four of their past five games. The remedy? "Leave it in the past and just worry about the next game,'' Collison said. "There's no point in sulking about the last game. Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Darren Collison 

One source with knowledge of the situation told HOOPSWORLD recently that Hibbert’s slow start is not a big surprise, as former Pacers point guard Darren Collison had a lot to do with Hibbert’s success last season, and Collison is now playing for the Mavericks following an offseason trade. “Darren was my good friend,” Hibbert tells HOOPSWORLD. “We talked, sat together on the plane, used to go have dinner on the road, lunch, always watching film together, just talking it through. I’d be frustrated at him at times and he’d be frustrated with me, but we’d talk it through. I used to get a lot of open layups, just him throwing the ball to me and the give-n-go cut. That’s something he’d get once or twice a game, but things change and obviously you have to adjust.” HoopsWorld

Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Darren Collison, Roy Hibbert