Rip City Project
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3 trades the Portland Trail Blazers should target if Zach Collins’ injury lingers

By Austin Carroll

DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Zach Collins #33 of the Portland Trail Blazers leaves the game against the Dallas Mavericks after a shoulder injury in the second half at American Airlines Center on October 27, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Zach Collins #33 of the Portland Trail Blazers leaves the game against the Dallas Mavericks after a shoulder injury in the second half at American Airlines Center on October 27, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers
DALLAS, TEXAS – OCTOBER 27: Zach Collins #33 of the Portland Trail Blazers leaves the game against the Dallas Mavericks after a shoulder injury (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Zach Collins was prepared to have a breakout season, yet the Portland Trail Blazers must now face life without him. Let’s look at their 3 best emergency options on the trade market.

There may not be a franchise in the NBA that has had so many promising big men have their careers sidetracked by untimely injuries as the Portland Trail Blazers. At a certain point, this game has to stop being fun to the basketball gods, right? Right?

In yet another unfortunate string of events, the Blazers must now face the distinct possibility of being forced to endure another regular season push without one of their key contributors in the frontcourt.

After logging 24 minutes, Zach Collins exited the game on October 27 against the Dallas Mavericks due to an apparent shoulder injury. It appeared to be hanging out of place as the 21-year-old clutched his shoulder and trotted back to the locker room.

But as Jamie Hudson from NBC Sports reports, we won’t know anything conclusive about his injury and recovery timetable until the Portland Trail Blazers return home from their five-game road trip.

Until then, we’re left with a whole lot of questions and a whole lot more speculation. Speaking of which, let’s speculate on the worst-case scenario in which Collins is sidelined for at least the remainder of 2019. What can we expect the Portland Trail Blazers to do in such a situation?

The current roster doesn’t have a healthy player capable of starting at power forward for a true title contender. Rookies Nassir Little, Jaylen Hoard and Moses Brown are all far too raw to contribute meaningful minutes. The free agent market is nearly completely barren — among the talented players that do remain (such as Joakim Noah and Kenneth Faried), they bring along with them as much baggage as they do talent.

Considering all this, Rip City Project takes a look into three sensible trades worth pursuing in the event Collins cannot make an immediate return to action.