Zombie The Next Siakam? Don't Sleep On Zach Collins.

It'd be nice if he'd developed a certain niche trait. Early in Aldridge's career, he would get easy points simply by sprinting down the court and beating his man. Can Collins do that? Is he fast enough to lead breaks? I'm hoping he can develop Pryzbilla like timing instincts when trying to defend shots. We could really use more backside blocks and generally better defense at the goal. He seems to have a pretty good stroke but is hardly a good shooter. If he's going to be more than a backup, he'll have to become a more dependable shooter than he is. If he was good at these three things, I think he'd be pretty valuable and starter worthy. Honestly, I haven't seen a noticeable improvement in these areas since he entered the league. Maybe he doesn't put enough time into his game, or maybe he's one of those players where it will all click for him at once. I'd say he needs to show it next year, but we were saying the same thing about him last offseason.

 

Have you thought about using a Teleprompter?
I would definitely use one. Watch this video.

 

Zach is getting 6 shots and he's minimal on offense. Melo is getting 13.4. Nurkic is getting 14. Trent is getting 12 (in the bubble). Jaren Jackson is only getting 13.2 for Memphis, less than Melo is averaging for Portland. Michael Porter is averaging 7 in Denver. Sabonis is averaging less than Nurkic. Bam Abedayo is averaging 11. It's not like these guys are getting CJ-level shooting opportunity for their teams

Blazers had no problem at all making room for Trent in the offense. They wouldn't have a problem making room for Jackson or Porter or Sabonis or Abedayo. The issue isn't a lack of opportunity for Zach...it's a lack of developed talent, ability, & consistency. Can he improve? sure. Is he better than a role player now....hell no

 

Zach is mediocre as fuck. He's a role player. We never should have used a fucking top 10 pick on him.

 

Not saying you are wrong but really he has been better than mediocre in my book. He starts. He has played very well in some big games. Was expected to make a big jump and got injured. He has 9 games this year with like 9 months of shoulder rehab.
Maybe it isn't time just yet to throw in the towel on the kid?

 

Yeah, we got a little spoiled with how well Nurk has played coming off an injury. It puts a bit of unfair expectations on Collins to come in and be dominant when he's younger and just got cleared for full contact a little over a month ago.

 

Starting as a top 10 pick is not some kind of high bar to hit. To me, that's mediocre.

 

Also, I'm not saying throw in the towel, but god it's frustrating to spend so much to get him and he turns out to just be a middle of the road starter. Lottery picks should be reserved for major difference makers. I really don't see Zach as that guy.

 

may not have been Olshey's finest day:

10 Zach Collins
11 Malik Monk
12 Luke Kennard
13 Donovan Mitchell
14 Bam Adebayo
19 John Collins
21 Terrance Ferguson
22 Jarrett Allen
23 OG Anunoby
26 Caleb Swanigan
27 Kyle Kuzma
29 Derrick White
30 Josh Hart
42 Thomas Bryant
45 Dillon Brooks
51 Monte Morris

**************************************************

I'm certainly not saying throw in the towel on Zach. I am saying there's lots of reason to lower expectations and look for a better starter. And for damn sure Zach should not be close to untouchable in any trade talks

there's a long line of young players Portland sat on, hoping for major development that never arrived and meanwhile, their value just fell and fell. Telfaire, Outlaw, Martell Webster, Jarret Jack, Sergio, Rudy, Bayless, Babbitt, TRob, Meyers....it's a damn long list and that's only the last 15 years. The thing is, for just about all those players it was pretty clear what they were going to be by the end of their 2nd seasons. Zach will enter his 4th season soon. Yeah, he's had a major setback so call it his 3rd season, if you want....but that doesn't explain everything.

 

just ours

 

Imagine being able to have one of these four guys on the roster now:

13Donovan Mitchell
14Bam Adebayo
19John Collins
23OG Anunoby

Also, I'd gladly draft Swannigan, and waive/trade his ass twice before I'd want Dillon Brooks on our roster.

 

Seems like you missed the period in that statement and then decided to leave off the remainder? Not sure if that is a typo or what?
It's like saying "My dog licks" as opposed to "My dog licks his balls"
Sorry @SlyPokerDog but the truth isn't pretty sometimes.

 

actually, both of those cases could be truth for dogs...at least those dogs who haven't had their balls removed

"my dog licks" includes balls as unspoken lickage; that's a rule. I've had dogs that would lick everything...the sidewalk...the shit of other dogs...trees...dirt....door jambs...their balls....my bare leg...the kitchen floor. Their tongue's were limited only by their range and imagination. Basically, dogs are stupid...yet somehow for hundreds of generations they've suckered people into being their sugar daddies

when I was a kid, my parents had a dog that had a particularly stupid dog month: in maybe even less than a month, that damn dog got a face full of porcupine quills...vet bill...sprayed by a skunk....and then lost it's mind because it ate a bunch of my mom's thyroid pills....vet bill. That was basically meth for dogs I guess. Believe it or not that dog survived to live many more stupid dog years

 

Wait a minute....
That cant be true. All I ever hear is how great a draft evaluator Olshey is.

 

I been telling ya for awhile the same thing. If this guy was a late 20s pick or something sure he’s Ight. But damn top 10? Fuuck no

Zach Collins sucks

 

We need great role players. Being a role player isn’t a negative thing.

 

I'd broaden that to say that a legit starting forward, either SF or PF should be the priority. Although I guess the NBA is evolving such that often, there's little difference between SF and PF. Durant, Kawhi, Giannis, Siakam....even Doncic. Those guys are just forwards. And there sure seems to be a new wave coming on: Jaren Jackson, Michael Porter, John Collins, TJ Warren (Pacers really stole one in that trade)

 

I never said it was

but at this point, Zach is a long ways from being a "great role player". And Portland needs some great starters more than they need great role players. Portland spent 4 years with the role-playing starting forward combo of Aminu/Harkless. Don't need another 4 years of that under-achievement

 

He is. Dame, CJ, GT2. Zach is a solid player with upside.