Blazers Center Zach Collins who missed the 2020 playoffs and the entirety of the 2020-21 season due to a fractured foot, has refractured the same foot. Collins initially suffered a hairline medial malleolus stress fracture in his left foot in the play in versus the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2020 NBA restart. He tried to return against the Lakers in the playoffs inside the bubble, but ended up watching from the bench. He underwent surgery following the postseason and missed the start of the 2020-21 season.
It appeared Collins would return a month into the season, but had a setback and had to have the same surgery once again to repair his foot after an MRI confirmed the first surgery hadn’t taken. Collins missed the rest of the season as the Blazers were very vague about any timeline for his return. It was reported in March that he wanted to return badly, but that it was unlikely unless the Blazers made a deep push into the playoffs. The Blazers were eliminated in the first round.
Collins refractured his foot less than a month after the Blazers finished their postseason. He suffered a left shoulder dislocation early in the 2019-20 season and missed the remainder as he rehabilitated. He played only 11 games that season. He has played 154 games total and no more than 77 games in the three seasons he was on the court. He played in only 66 games his rookie season.
Collins was drafted in 2017 with the 10th pick in the draft, after general manager Neil Olshey traded the 15th and 20th picks in that draft to move up to get him. Collins is a free agent. The Blazers refused to extend Collins this past season and will likely let him walk or sign him for the minimum in the hopes he can somehow get and stay healthy.
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