Just two days after ESPN reported that the Detroit Pistons were in contact with free-agent center Jason Collins, the Detroit News said it looks unlikely that the 34-year-old Collins will sign with the team. The Pistons are apparently looking for younger players.

Collins has been one of the more high-profile free agents this offseason after becoming the first NBA player to come out as gay during his career. Collins came out in an April article he wrote for Sports Illustrated, which attracted a record 3.7 million readers on the day it was released. President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, and many teammates and fans voiced support for Collins.

The veteran's quest to find a team may be challenging because of his age and his lack of production on the court. Collins averaged 1.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in 38 games for the Wizards last season and has not averaged more than 11 minutes per game since the 2010-11 season. However, Collins is well known for his ability on defense.

"I look at it, honestly, like any other free agency in the past several years, where I know I have to stay patient," Collins told the New York Times last month. "And I know that at this point in my career, you remain hopeful that there's a job and an opportunity waiting for you once teams start to fill out their rosters.

While some consider him to be the first active male professional athlete to come out in a major American team sport, it is too difficult to pinpoint a specific person. Professional soccer player Robbie Rogers came out this year as well and other players have been said to be out during their career, such as former MLB player Glenn Burke, who was unfairly outed in the 1970s before he was ready to come out.

Since his coming out, Collins has been involved in many charity efforts to improve the lives of LGBT youth athletes. Collins and his twin brother, Jarron, were coaches at the YOU Belong Sports and Leadership Camp in Chicago in July. The camp was designed for "inner-city LGBTQ youth," according to Outsports.com. 

Collins said he changed his number to 98 in honor of Mathew Shepard, a student from Wyoming who was murdered for being gay in 1998.