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Portland Trail Blazers: 3 crucial roster deadlines to watch for in October

By Marlow Ferguson Jr.

Aug 11, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Zach Collins (33) high fives forward Mario Hezonja (44) after making a three point basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of a NBA game at The Field House. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 11, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Zach Collins (33) high fives forward Mario Hezonja (44) after making a three point basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of a NBA game at The Field House. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Portland Trail Blazers
Zach Collins, Portland Trail Blazers (Mandatory Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports) /

No. 1: Trail Blazers F Collins has rookie-scale extension deadline on Oct. 19

Early last month, Rip City Project’s own Stevie Cozens went in-depth on just how unlikely a rookie-scale extension is for Zach Collins. At this point, it would be a surprise, especially considering the way the 2019-20 season went.

Collins is by no means “injury-prone,” but he underwent surgeries in succession throughout last season’s campaign. If the Trail Blazers did elect to go through with an extension, it would be a sign of encouragement from what we have seen. At full health, the Nurkić-Collins frontcourt appeared almost Divac-Webber lite, in how they could engineer offensive creation through post passing, and see cuts with ease.

The reads themselves weren’t complicated, but Collins produced the best numbers of his career, despite having the lowest usage-rate, with all of the offensive talent the Blazers had.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks brought up an excellent point, in regards to the Collins situation during his exclusive article. We’ve seen this pattern before. He mentioned the San Antonio Spurs, and how they provided Dejounte Murray with an extension in the form of a four-year, $64 million deal as a sign of trust, and that came after Murray was set to return from a torn ACL.

Regardless of what the Trail Blazers do in this situation, there’s going to be some sort of trickle-down effect. If they don’t offer the Blazers big the rookie-scale extension, there’s a chance he has a big 2021 season, and enters with more potential suitors when he becomes a restricted free agent that following summer.