Portland Trail Blazers: 5 reasons Zach Collins was a good pick

4. He adds an entirely new dimension to Portland’s game

As stated in the last slide, Collins projects to be a stretch-4 when not being used as a backup center. Though he doesn’t have the quickest release on his one-motion shot, his mechanics are simple, his release is high, and his footwork is pretty fundamental.

When acting as a floor-spacer behind the arc for Gonzaga last year, Collins went 10-of-21 (47.6 percent). It’s a small sample size, but the efficiency and range are promising. Plus, the ability to force opposing seven-footers to close out away from the key remains a highly-coveted NBA skill.

Breaking it down even further, Collins averaged 1.125 points per possession on spot-ups and 1.46 points per possession in catch-and-shoot situations. Whether he’s chilling in the corner or stepping out to the top of the key off the pick-and-pop, Collins will give the Blazers an entirely new and efficient weapon at their disposal.

And did I mention he’s a pretty good rim protector? That’s a much-needed addition to the Blazers, who’ve developed a reputation for being a poor defensive team.