Raptors: 3 free agents fans should be relieved Masai Ujiri didn’t chase
By Mike Luciano
2. Zach Collins, San Antonio Spurs
The Raptors signing Collins wouldn’t have been an inherently bad idea. After all, he was picked in the lottery, and Toronto could give him a chance to rehabilitate his value after some really unlucky injuries. However, after the contract San Antonio gave him, the Raptors were right to look away.
Collins was given a three-year, $22 million deal from San Antonio despite the fact he has averaged just 5.7 points per game in his first three NBA seasons and has just 11 games played since the start of the 2019 season. The Raptors were able to sign a center of their own for cheaper.
Zach Collins has agreed to a three-year $22M deal with the Spurs, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/XsBUdWYfLr
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 2, 2021
The Toronto Raptors shouldn’t have given Zach Collins a big contract.
Birch averaged 11.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game with the Raptors last year, and he doesn’t have anywhere close to the same concerns about his durability when compared to Collins. His contract is for three years and just $20 million, which looks like a much more economical deal.
Ujiri should be commended for not letting Collins’ draft position seduce him, as he has made a habit of adding former first-round picks in need of a second chance like Stanley Johnson and DeAndre’ Bembry. Birch should start right away, while Collins will be a high-priced backup for Jakob Poeltl in San Antonio.