Like his teammate Gary Trent Jr., Trail Blazers big man Zach Collins doesn’t intend to sign a contract extension with the club before the season, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Agent Mark Bartelstein tells Scotto that discussions with Portland on a long-term deal for Collins will be tabled until the 2021 offseason.
“(Blazers president of basketball operations) Neil (Olshey) and I have talked quite a bit about Zach, and there’s no question how strongly the Blazers feel about him,” Bartelstein said. “We both feel that an extension probably just doesn’t make sense at this time based on Zach not having a chance to play as much last year due to his injuries.
“Everyone’s focus right now is on getting Zach back to full health and having a terrific season, and then Neil and I will sit down and get to work on a contract this summer.”
Collins missed most of the 2019/20 season due to a shoulder injury, then had to be shut down early during the summer restart thanks to ankle surgery. He only played a total of 11 games in his third year, so he’ll look to make a stronger impression during the fourth and final year of his rookie contract in ’20/21.
Here’s more from Scotto on potential candidates for contract extensions:
- The Nets have had exploratory discussions with center Jarrett Allen about a possible rookie scale extension, according to Scotto, who hears from a source close to Allen that the big man has enjoyed learning from Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and wants to remain in Brooklyn long-term.
- Scotto confirms that P.J. Tucker and the Rockets are engaging in extension talks, as Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle reported on Friday. If the two sides don’t reach a deal and Tucker becomes available in trades, Houston should have no problem finding suitors — multiple teams have expressed interest in acquiring him, says Scotto.
- There’s mutual interest between the Pistons and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk in a potential extension, writes Scotto. Mykhailiuk, who will become a restricted free agent in 2021 without a new deal, would be eligible for up to $53.76MM over four years. That’s probably higher than Detroit would be willing to go, but it’s worth noting that the third-year guard made 40.4% of his three-pointers in 2019/20 and sharpshooters like Davis Bertans and Joe Harris did very well in free agency.
- Although the Bulls and Lauri Markkanen have both publicly expressed a desire to finalize a rookie scale extension by Monday’s deadline, the team sides remained far apart heading into the weekend, according to Scotto.
As a Rip City Fan: TRADE Collins- if any NBA GM is dumb enough to give us any assets for Collins, I would trade him in a second. Kanter is better than Collins, as is A Mason Plummee. Collins is all hype, no action.
Collins drafted ahead of Bam… and the Blazers traded up to get him. That’s ugly.
Yeah 100% don’t understand how Collins has this high value he’s not that good.
I still love the dream idea of Harden joining Dame.
McCollum, Collins, Trent Jr, Simons, Little and 2 first round picks for Harden and Tucker.
1. Dame
2. Harden. Hood
3. Covington. Jones Jr
4. Tucker. Melo. Giles
5. Nurkic. Kanter
Then add a back up PG from the FA market like former player Shabazz Napier or IT
Harden and Dame would be an absolute nightmare for teams to deal with. Then you’ve got Covington and Tucker giving you spacing and also being great defenders and Nurkic in the middle doing abit of everything.
Off the wood you have Hood another 3 and D wing, Jones Jr another good defender who can play make a little, Melo a go to scorer with tons of experience, Enes Kanter a solid back up big who can also score easily, and lastly Harry Giles a young player on the come back who has huge potential
This would make the Blazers the best team on paper. As for the Rockets return. Your getting McCullom who you can either keep or trade for more assets. But a bunch of great young talent, Collins the PF/C, he’s and Wood would be nice together. Simons a promising young ball handler, Trent Jr a knock down 3 point shooter, Little an athletic slashing 3 with potential and plus 2 future firsts. That’s a haul
with Cousins already in H Town…maybe the rox flip Collins for another player…
I like the trade if it’s possible…
Meh…
There is perceived value in Collins, trade him now! He’s proven nothing other than constantly injury prone. Portland needs a true Power Forward, they have not had one since Aldridge. Win now mode means talent now.