Sources: Collison mulling February return, likely to an LA team

After a stunning retirement prior to free agency, veteran guard Darren Collison is considering a February return to the NBA - with the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers emerging as his preferred destinations, league sources told ESPN.

Collison, 32, exited the league abruptly in late June despite an expectation that he would attract multiple contract offers in the neighborhood of $10 million-plus a season.

Collison's interest in a return and his focus on the Los Angeles teams sets up another possible recruiting showdown between the Lakers and Clippers, two of the NBA's primary championship contenders.

Many of the league's contenders have monitored Collison's interest in returning and have…