Darren Collison is solid after leaving Clippers for Sacramento

Darren Collison’s preference was to remain with the Clippers. It was just that he felt someone else made him more of a priority.

The first call Collison received when the free agency period began last summer was from the Sacramento Kings. They were offering their starting point guard job and a hefty raise.

“That’s what you’ve got to go with,” Collison, who signed a three-year, $16-million contract with the Kings, said Sunday before his new team’s 98-92 victory over his former one. “You want to play for a team that really wants you first.”

Collison has rewarded the Kings with solid play over the season’s first three games. He finished with 14 points, five rebounds and four assists against the Clippers and appeared to glance at the team’s bench after making a 17-foot jumper that gave Sacramento a 94-90 lead with 52 seconds left.

Collison opted out of a contract that would have paid him $1.985 million to return to the Clippers this season, seeking more money. The Clippers didn’t pretend they could give it to him.

“I wanted to keep him,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said. “I thought he would have been perfect for here forever. But I know math a little bit.”

The Clippers were searching for an upgrade at small forward and eventually committed their mid-level exception of four years and $23 million to forward-center Spencer Hawes. They gave their biannual exception of two years and $4.2 million to Jordan Farmar to replace Collison, who averaged 11.4 points and 3.7 assists in his one season with the Clippers.

“My goal was to come back and try to help them win a championship,” Collison said before detailing the Kings’ pitch to make him part of their rebuilding efforts.

“When you leave a team that’s contending for a championship, you want to make sure you’re going to a team that’s, if not doing the same thing, [at least] committed to winning. We’re not where the Clippers are at as far as goal-wise, but at the same time, everybody’s committed to winning.”

This represents Collison’s third starting job in his seven NBA seasons. He was replaced as a starter in both Indiana and Dallas but didn’t need to sell Sacramento Coach Mike Malone on his upside because Malone had coached Collison as an assistant in New Orleans.

“His quickness, his ability to push the ball, create pace, his ability to pick up full court …” Malone said, ticking off a list of favorable attributes.

Rivers said he missed Collison’s speed, locker room presence and ability to play alongside starting point guard Chris Paul.

“He could guard the ball at times and could give C.P., at times, some rest,” Rivers said. “So far we haven’t been able to do that. And so we miss that.”

Etc.

Reserve forward Glen Davis is close to returning from a strained right groin but will not play Monday against Utah, Rivers said.

ben.bolch@latimes.com

Twitter: @latbbolch