Zach Collins, Spurs Agree to 2-Year, $35M Contract Extension Ahead of 2023 NBA Season

The San Antonio Spurs agreed to a two-year, $35 million extension with big man Zach Collins, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Collins was due to be a free agent after the 2023-24 NBA season. San Antonio also worked proactively to sign Devin Vassell to a five-year, $135 million extension with him approaching the end of his rookie deal.

Injuries have been a persistent hurdle for Collins throughout his career. When he first signed with the Spurs, he had missed the entire 2020-21 campaign due to lingering ankle trouble, and then he was limited to just 28 appearances.

When healthy, the 25-year-old has demonstrated why San Antonio brought him aboard in the first place. He's averaging 17.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per 36 minutes with the Spurs, according to Basketball Reference. He has been an efficient scorer as well, shooting 51.2 percent overall and 36.7 percent on threes.

Based on the preseason, Collins will continue to deliver more of the same and possibly more.

Re-signing him now is also a sign of the internal confidence in his fit alongside No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama. In basketball terms, they could be a great inside/outside tandem thanks to Collins' ability to space the floor.

The 6'11" forward/center might be the kind of enforcer who can push back against any additional physicality Wembanyama faces from opposing teams.

Some fans will undoubtedly be surprised at the news Collins will earn nearly $18 million annually starting 2024, but that's a reasonable number given both his individual value and the direction in which the NBA salary cap is heading.

For the Spurs, the next three seasons will be an opportunity to evaluate whether Collins fits into their long-term plans beyond that.