NBA: Clippers boost backcourt with Darren Collison

After trading away Eric Bledsoe as part of a three-team deal to acquire JJ Redick and Jared Dudley, the Los Angeles Clippers agreed to a deal with Darren Collison to back-up starter Chris Paul, Saturday (Sunday, PHL time), Marc Stein of ESPN reported.

Darren Collison, I'm told, is going to the Clippers. Done deal. Two-year deal, player option in Year 2

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 7, 2013

With no sign-and-trade workable between Mavs and Clips, Collison opting to take portion of Clippers' MLE for chance to go back to LA area

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 7, 2013

Specific financial terms were not disclosed, but Collison is said to have agreed to part of the Clipper's mid-level exception and a two-year deal, the second year being a player option.

Collison last season played in 81 games for the Dallas Mavericks, norming 12.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.2 steals. However, late in the season, he lost his starting job to veteran journeyman Mike James, though he still continued to average over 20 minutes a game.

The Mavericks earlier this weekend signed point guards Jose Calderon and Devin Harris to run their show.

Coincidentally, Collison began his career as Chris Paul's back-up, when the two originally played for the New Orleans Hornets, now the New Orleans Pelicans. He was a first-round pick for that franchise back in 2009, before getting traded an offseason later to the Indiana Pacers.  - AMD, GMA News