Zach Collins doesn’t have a guaranteed contract for next season, but coach Gregg Popovich declared today that he’ll be the Spurs‘ starting center, writes Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. The 25-year-old big man has revived his career over the past two years in San Antonio after an ankle injury caused him to sit out the entire 2020/21 season. Popovich’s declaration means the Spurs are virtually certain to guarantee Collins’ $7.7MM salary for next year.
Collins has excelled since taking over the starting spot after Jakob Poeltl was traded to Toronto in February, Orsborn notes. Over that time, he has averaged 16.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals in 19 games while shooting 39.2% on three-pointers.
“He’s playing with abandon now, for a long time, for months,” Popovich said. “He’s added the three-point shot to his game, he’s balanced better on the post, he’s playing good defense. “… The fact he can shoot it and has gained confidence in it really makes him that much more dangerous.”
Popovich also revealed that Collins is finished for the season, missing this afternoon’s game and Sunday’s finale after being sent home due to a problem with stitches on his left hand.
There’s more on the Spurs:
- The pronouncement from Popovich leads to speculation that he has already decided to return to the team next season, tweets NBA writer Marc Stein. The 74-year-old coach, who was announced as a Hall of Fame inductee last weekend, has been running the Spurs since 1996.
- Julian Champagnie posted his fourth straight double-digit scoring performance on Saturday, Orsborn tweets. The rookie small forward has benefited from an increase in playing time over the past three weeks. “There is really only one way to learn the game, you have to just get thrown out there and learn to play,” Champagnie said. “That’s what they have been giving me.”
- The most important work for the Spurs will start after the regular season wraps up on Sunday, Orsborn states in another Express-News article. The front office will turn its attention to the draft and free agency after one of the worst seasons in franchise history. However, the Spurs were able to accomplish their main goals, which were maximizing their chances at the No. 1 pick and developing the young talent they already have. “I feel like every single person on the roster got better,” Keldon Johnson said. “Obviously we didn’t win 30, 40, 50 games. We got better every single week and we stayed together the whole time.”
Spurs are in such a great position heading into the draft. Get the first overall pick then obviously take Victor.
Would love to see that for Pop. Could have Collins and Victor paired together as starters. The modern day Duncan and Robinson of the past. Alternatively have Sochan at the 4 and Collins off the bench. Just the history of Pop and having good bigs. The history of Pop and foreign players aswell. Plus the fact he just made the hall of fame this year along with Tony Parker.
However if they got second place they could take their franchise point guard in Scoot Henderson. Think Tre Jones who has been great for them more suits a bench role so that’s a good adjustment and Scoot I think would suit playing with guys such as Vassell, Johnson and Sochan.
Anything after that is hard. The clear third best player is Brandon Miller who plays the 3 but he’s two big to play the 2 but could play the 4. Either way he’d start with Johnson and Sochan would be on the bench which still leaves a hole at PG and questions at C. Then you have the Thompson twin Amen. Hard to judge his talent in the overtime competition but either way for a point guard his 3 point shooting has been terrible thus far same with his twin Ausar who project to be more of a 2.
I’m hoping the spurs get a first or second overall pick. Detroit just got Cade 1st overall and Ivey 5th. Not to mention have Wiseman previous first overall who plays centre along with Duren Stewart and Bagley (former second overall).
Houston just got Jabari 3rd and Green 2nd. Not to mention also have had another 3 other first round draft picks the last 2 years. Victor seems like just a bad fit with Sengun.
If the NBA did control the draft surely make it
It fills every teams biggest need
Spurs 1 Victor need a centre and star
Houston 2 Scoot need a point guard
Detroit 3 Miller need a SF
After that who cares, Hornets take a Thompson twin and good luck with that but cool to see a tall talented backcourt with Ball.
5 Blazers don’t deserve anything, tanking themselves out the playoffs should take forward in Hendricks or Walker.
6 Magic do not take another forward. Roll the dice on Ausar
7. Indy take the other forward Hendricks or Walker
8. Wizards they suck regardless Carson Wallace would be best fit but do they care no
9 Jazz huge W for them they get Cam Whitmore at the SF spot, great fit with Lauri.
10 Mavs tanked out of the playoffs for what who knows….
Really no one cares after 3. Mavs just tanked for 10th. And rightfully so lol.
I also want Pops to land #1. He can go for it one more time. In the next few yrs.
Yeah Dallas are so stupid for doing that.
They already have Josh Green and Jaden Hardy, two really exciting young guards and both don’t get the playing time they deserve. Now they tank out of the playoffs for what another youngster to sit on the bench?
How’s it rightfully so? Why would you want to tank out of the postseason. No way Kyrie stays, meaning you gave up Dinwiddie and DFS for nothing. Wood has been looking forward to leaving most the season, Jason Kidd will be lucky to still be in charge next year and the bright side is what you got the 10th pick, who cares.
Of the last 10, 10th overall picks there’s only been 2 good players Mikal Bridges and CJ McCollum. Of the 10 before that only 2 of those were good too, Paul George and Brook Lopez. So good luck having a 1/5 chance of a good player if not have fun with a Thon Maker, Johnny Davis, Elfrid Payton or Cam Reddish.
You need an explanation. That’s all we need to know about you.
Mavs don’t care about past drafts. Although you make no sense. Cause there is plenty of talent taken after 10 over the yrs. Only this draft matters. So look at who’s there. I’d say that 10th pick is very valuable. Kyrie is a ho. He’ll sign where they pay him. Team is better for next yr with the pick.
This draft since you obviously got no clue. Is a deep first rd draft. And the 10th pick can land you a starting 4. Thing Mavs need most is reb and defense. Since they were last in team rebounding and 22nd in team D.
Oh yeah so going from Kyrie to the 10th pick will actually make them a better team you think. That’s with Christian Wood also walking yeah good luck with that.
As for my information on previously taken 10th overall picks it shows that that pick doesn’t usually bring a good player. Yes there is talent taken after it and developed and what not but over the years 10th in the draft hasn’t actually been that great.
As for the draft and player’s available I don’t think there is a standout good pick at 10. You can reach for a PF like GG Jackson or Kris Murray but both guys are mocked anywhere from 12-20 on most boards. And both guys aren’t going to be an improvement from Kyrie and Wood. Imagine had they kept Dinwiddie and DFS they could’ve also ended up with the 10th pick and actually gotten better.
Then as I said Dallas has young talent and chooses not to use it with Josh Green and Jaden Hardy both well drafted I must admit but both not getting the time they deserve. What makes you think some rookie selected 10th will fix their problems. It’s not happening.
Doubt Jason Kidd makes it to the end of next season, and I don’t think the Mavs make the playoffs next year
Pops is the creepy, unmarried, uncle you don’t leave your kids alone with.
I don’t like, or respect any man that carries himself the way Popovich does.
Seriously lol . You should really think and research before you spout.
Let’s take one yr ….. ok 2019 nba draft
Pick #
10- Cam Reddish
11- Cam Johnson
12- PJ Washington
13- Tyler Herro
And plenty more ….
You pick the yr. 2022 …. Ok
There are plenty players after 9th pick. Over the yrs. Look them up yourself and learn something.
And since you don’t know or care enough. This yr getting CC Jackson would be a coup for the Mavs.