Latest idea come the off-season after Richardson’s option is picked up, especially after hearing that Portland is rebuilding with or without Lillard, so McCollum seems available:
To BOS: McCollum
To POR: 2023 BOS 1st, 2025 BOS 1st, 3rd Team 2024 1st, Richardson
To 3rd Team: Smart (as pass-through if needed to make the cap work)
Roster in the off-season, assuming we find a way to bring back Schröder and Horford:
Schröder/Pritchard
McCollum/Langford/Begarin
Brown/Nesmith
Tatum/G. Williams
Horford/R. Williams
Add the 2022 1st and a couple vets at the minimum, like this roster…perhaps McCollum can become a glue guy who gets JT/JB to live up to their full potential playing team ball? Definitely love McCollum as the third guy in a Big 3, and really see limited ways to get a Big 3…
Couple things.
First, Richardson doesn't have an option to pick up. He was extended and has a guaranteed contract for next year.
Second, there is no reasonable way of retaining Schroder as the best Boston could offer is the full MLE that would hard cap the team and is most likely too low for what Dennis will be looking to sign for.
Third, Horford is signed for next year. But it's not guaranteed fully. If Brad wants him, he just keeps him. But Brad does have the option of cutting him, thereby having only to pay $14.5 million instead of the $26.5 million if retained.
Fourth, the reason the Blazers have almost no one returning is because they are most likely going to be sold and new owners would want their new GM to have as clean of a slate as possible. That means no long term salaries, as much cap space as possible, lots of draft picks amassed and only good prospects as players retained, if possible. For that reason, Horford seems a better player to trade as he could be cut saving Portland $12 million in salary next season and getting rid of McCollum's future long term salary commitments. This also allows Boston to keep Smart. So if the trade happens before the draft, so that Portland can cut Horford, Boston could send their 2021, 2023 and 2025 first rounders instead of needing to find a third team to get that third first rounder to send Portland's way. If Portland wants some prospects, Brad could always include Mader and/or Bergarin and/or Pritchard. Pritchard did go to college in the area so that might spark some interest in him being added to the deal.