Ranking the 5 worst signings of 2021 NBA Free Agency so far

Duncan Robinson of the Miami Heat
Duncan Robinson of the Miami Heat

#3 Zach Collins

Zach Collins with the Portland Trail Blazers
Zach Collins with the Portland Trail Blazers

Zach Collins' new NBA contract is one of the strangest deals so far. The San Antonio Spurs are essentially overpaying for a player that the Portland Trail Blazers hoped he would become.

The Spurs are also committing $22 million in the hope that Collins remains healthy. He has had at least four separate surgeries in the last two years and has played just 11 games in that span. Collins has a career average of 5.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.3 steals and 0.7 blocks per game on a rudimentary 44/32/72 shooting split.

With the kind of averages he posts and his constant battle with injuries, it is hard to understand what the Spurs expect from Zach Collins. The Portland Trail Blazers didn't even extend the 22-year-old a $7 million qualifying offer despite the fact that they can't sign a replacement.

#4 Cody Zeller

Cody Zeller with the Charlotte Hornets
Cody Zeller with the Charlotte Hornets

For a team chasing championships with Damian Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers signing Cody Zeller doesn't make sense. He never lived up to what the Hornets expected him to become when they drafted him as the 4th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.

After eight seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, he has career averages of 8.7 points, 6.0 rebounds. 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks. Those are decent numbers for a backup center on a championship squad but not a starting one.

Cody Zeller signed a veteran's minimum contract with the Trail Blazers which is worth $2.3 million for a player in his 9th season.

#5 Duncan Robinson

Duncan Robinson of the Miami Heat
Duncan Robinson of the Miami Heat

Duncan Robinson is a three-point specialist who is great at his craft and he gives the Miami Heat much-needed spacing and shooting.

However, it is hard to wrap your head around the fact that the Pat Riley and the Heat are throwing $90 million on a 27-year-old shooter with just two full NBA seasons worth of experience. He has an NBA career average of 12.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.2 blocks.

Although it isn't much, Robinson's shooting clip from beyond the arc fell from 44% in the 2019-20 NBA season to 40% last season. He cannot get his own shot and doesn't play good defense.

The $90 million deal is the highest for an undrafted player in NBA history. Although Robinson deserves every penny coming his way, the Heat aren't going to get much in return for that kind of coin.

Also Read: NBA Free Agency Rumors: LA Lakers exploring the possibility of signing Isaiah Thomas

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