Zach Collins' value skyrockets if he can keep up this smile-inducing trend

Zach Collins is a polarizing figure for much of Spurs' nation. He provides quality minutes off the bench for the team as their second Center, but there seems to be something about him that fails to endear him to the fans.

Collins is good at getting under people’s skin. It’s usually on the court where that’s effective and it seems other teams really don’t care for him. It’s with the rooting fans where that doesn’t bode so well, and he seems to do that as well, at least from talks around the proverbial water cooler.

The best thing the former Gonzaga hooper is doing this season is making shots from distance. In his final two preseason games this season, he shot 58% from three-point range, and he’s continued his hot start over the first portion of this season, shooting 50% from the land of plenty.

Zach's shooting stretch is better than any fan could have hoped for

The 6’11 center’s best attribute as a Spur is his trade value because the team is moving towards a faster playing style and Zach struggles to keep up. At only 3.2 rebounds per game this season, his style isn’t an overly physical one.

In an ideal backup center, the team gets some defense and some tenacity. Collins doesn’t necessarily bring either. At $16.7 million for this season and $18 million for next season, it’d serve the Spurs well to use Collins as a trade piece and spend less on their second-unit Center.

The Spurs have options. They can give Charles Bassey more time with the second unit or use a combination of others like Sandro Mamukelashvili or another player acquired in a trade. With that kind of money, the Spurs can sign a backup center in free agency, if need be, or with an influx of draft capital, can work a deal or draft a big.

There are multiple options if Collins maintains his shooting streak

Based on his hot shooting, Collins could be an asset for other teams. He’s a younger player age-wise but has already been in the league for seven years with 325 games under his belt. He’s been a starter in this league before, and that experience also brings value.

It’s clear that the Spurs should look to deal Collins. If they can’t, the Silver and Black will have to hope he can continue his hot shooting and figure out how to fit with San Antonio's free-flowing offense. His shooting will make that easier. It's difficult to shoot 50% for a whole season—that will come down—but if he regresses too much, he runs the risk of feeling the fury of the fan base yet again.