Blazers sign Jarron Collins for 10 days

The Blazers signed center Jarron Collins to a 10-day contract Tuesday.

Collins, a 10-year veteran who spent eight years with the Jazz, played 18 games with the Clippers this year and had been working out in Los Angeles before getting the call from Portland.

When asked what his role would be, the 32-year-old chuckled and said “just go hit somebody.”

Collins was invited to Blazers training camp last season but was beaten out by point guard Patty Mills for a roster spot. Even so, he said he remembered the energy and fan support the Rose Garden provided, and is excited by the prospect of returning.

The Blazers have been aching for a big man since trading away center Joel Przybilla, forward Dante Cunningham (who often played center) and center Sean Marks to the Bobcats last week. Starting center Marcus Camby, meanwhile, has been placed on a 20-minute limit.

Collins admitted that it was hard for him to follow the Blazers too closely this season, but was aware of their recent trades and the void they had at the center position. He added he’d like to parlay his 10-day contract into a full-time roster spot.

But will he play tonight?

“In all my years, I’ve never asked the coach if I’m going to play,” Collins said. “That doesn’t usually turn out well.”

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