KEY POINTS

  • CJ McCollum could be traded by Portland as they overhaul the team
  • McCollum could be the new leader for the San Antonio Spurs 
  • McCollum's three-year deal may hinder his move out of Portland

The Portland Trail Blazers have a lot of things to do in the summer, and part of it is addressing its star backcourt.

Damian Lillard has yet to figure out his next move, and his partner CJ McCollum is probably doing the same.

Although it has yet to be made official, the likelihood of seeing Lillard or McCollum leaving Portland is a big possibility.

A trade could happen at some point with several teams interested in either player.

In the case of Lillard, seeing him traded has been branded as “probable, if not certain” by Jason Quick of The Athletic.

Having spent eight years with the Blazers, McCollum has had his ups and downs with the franchise alongside Lillard.

But it remains that the best they were able to go was reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2019.

Beyond that, the team has just struggled and Portland now has to do due diligence to figure out how to bounce back from a disappointing campaign.

They exited the first round of this year’s playoffs, falling to the Denver Nuggets. That also resulted in the dismissal of head coach Terry Stotts.

However, trading McCollum will not be easy. He holds a three-year deal worth $100 million that will start next year.

Teams may be wary of this, aware of the financial matters tied to a potential McCollum trade.

The 2016 NBA Most Improved Player had a good 2019-20 NBA season, averaging 23.1 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.9 rebounds in 47 games.

Those are good numbers other teams would love to have although it may be limited to those who have a salary cap to spare.

One team mentioned to be interested in McCollum is the San Antonio Spurs.

Jabari Young of CNBC suggested that the Spurs may look into a trade involving the 29-year-old player.

CJ McCollum
CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers dribbles upcourt during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Dec. 23, 2017. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

With DeMar DeRozan set to become an unrestricted free agent, McCollum could be the replacement that head coach Gregg Popovich may consider.

Nothing is set in stone, but a trade involving the 10th overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft is highly possible.

If it materializes, McCollum would become a new leader in the young core of the Spurs.

It would be a new responsibility for the Ohio native, a chance to establish himself as a leader and an All-Star.

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