CJ McCollum?

[gouki88]

Blazers fans seem totally against him, he's an iffy fit alongside Lillard, and he's on a big contract.

Smart + Langford + TT works financially (obviously would be more moving parts). Would Portland bite on something like that + a few picks? 

CJ McCollum averages 28/6/5 without Damian Lillard, per https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/cj-mccollum-stats-without-damian-lilliard. I think he'd be a a good lead guard in our offensive system, but it gets tricky with Kemba here (hopefully not for long!). Anyone else interested in him?

[SparzWizard]

If you want to win, you make that move.

Throw in those useless picks too. Too bad Ainge wants to stash them and turn them to another Grant Williams or James Young or Terry Rozier before he comes relevant in a few years.

[Somebody]

If you want to lose, you make that move. I see no difference between CJ McCollum and Marcus Smart on high-level teams in terms of overall impact, and we don't need McCollum's offence as much as we need Smart's defence.

[seancally]

If you want to lose, you make that move. I see no difference between CJ McCollum and Marcus Smart on high-level teams in terms of overall impact, and we don't need McCollum's offence as much as we need Smart's defence.

We don’t need Smart’s defense, we need team defense. Plenty of other good NBA teams - including top defensive teams - have success without Marcus Smart. I don’t think the trade suggested however is remotely enough for CJ. That’s a team that already relies on Dame too much for offense.

[Who]

Portland need star talent for CJ McCollum. They cannot afford to rebuild if they want to keep Lillard around. So the only trades they will consider are CJ for a fellow star. Which rules Boston out because Jaylen & Tatum are each far too valuable to give up for CJ so they have nothing to offer.

And yes, they should trade CJ. They have the same problem with CJ and Dame that Golden State had with Monta and Steph early in Steph's career. GSW were smart enough to deal with the problem. Portland were not.

[Somebody]

If you want to lose, you make that move. I see no difference between CJ McCollum and Marcus Smart on high-level teams in terms of overall impact, and we don't need McCollum's offence as much as we need Smart's defence.

We don’t need Smart’s defense, we need team defense. Plenty of other good NBA teams - including top defensive teams - have success without Marcus Smart. I don’t think the trade suggested however is remotely enough for CJ. That’s a team that already relies on Dame too much for offense.

Smart is probably the best team defender among guards in the NBA?

[Jvalin]

I believe McCollum is the best player we can realistically get this offseason.

Blazers in: Marcus Smart + Evan Fournier (signed and traded to the Blazers)
Celtics in: CJ McCollum

We'd have to somehow dump Kemba in a different trade. I mean, Kemba and CJ playing together would be a defensive nightmare.

Why for the Blazers
Imo, Smart is the 2nd most versatile/switchable guard defender in the NBA behind only Ben Simmons (who ain't exactly a guard to begin with). He'd be a nice fit next to Lillard.

Fournier would operate as a secondary shot creator. He can create his own shot. He can create shots for his teammates as well. He can ever run the PnR a little bit.

PG: Lillard
SG: Smart
SF: Fournier
PF: Covington
C: Nurkic

6th man: Powell

Problem is, the Blazers would become hard capped at the apron. If they cannot retain Powell (assuming he opts out), then it's a bad trade for them. Not sure what Powell and Fournier will command on the open market.

[Birdman]

CJ be great here along with Tatum & Brown

[Jiri Welsch]

I would not be interested in McCollum if we are forced to keep Kemba.

That’s a lot of money to be giving your #3 and #4 options who are very limited in their own ways.

[Birdman]

I would not be interested in McCollum if we are forced to keep Kemba.

That’s a lot of money to be giving your #3 and #4 options who are very limited in their own ways.

True but try and trade Walker but doubt if there be any takers..New York or New Orleans maybe

[gouki88]

I would not be interested in McCollum if we are forced to keep Kemba.

That’s a lot of money to be giving your #3 and #4 options who are very limited in their own ways.

https://tradenba.com/trades/_c6TkcaNi

Could have a framework like that. Picks and prospects could be shuffled, but those as the main bits of salary

[Jiri Welsch]

I would not be interested in McCollum if we are forced to keep Kemba.

That’s a lot of money to be giving your #3 and #4 options who are very limited in their own ways.

https://tradenba.com/trades/_c6TkcaNi

Could have a framework like that. Picks and prospects could be shuffled, but those as the main bits of salary

Sign me up.

[Jvalin]

Fwiw, here's an article from the athletic suggesting that the C's could be interested in McCollum.

https://theathletic.com/2667978/2021/06/23/coaching-search-the-focus-on-neil-olsheys-offseason-cj-mccollum-on-the-trade-block-blazers-mailbag/

Terry Stotts is out as coach. There are rumblings that Damian Lillard is getting antsy. The calls for Neil Olshey to make a franchise-changing move are louder than ever. And the franchise’s commitment to CJ McCollum is once again being questioned.

Lillard’s 31st birthday approaches in July, and after another season in which Lillard went above and beyond to elevate the Blazers, only to be let down in the playoffs by lack of adjustments and lack of a supporting cast, there is a palpable sense of urgency coming from Lillard’s camp. Lillard wants to win big, and he wants to do it now, and following the Blazers’ first-round exit at the hands of a shorthanded Denver roster, it wasn’t hard to see Lillard’s frustration.

Olshey has acknowledged that over the years, any move of note — a trade or free-agent signing — has been first run by Lillard to receive his endorsement. If Lillard thinks Simmons could work, then that’s the type of move that gives the Blazers a chance to make an instant jump because it addresses their biggest weakness: defense. I’ve also heard Boston could be interested in a player like McCollum, and I’ve always thought Marcus Smart and his defense would be a great pairing in Portland (obviously it would take more to make salaries match, but Smart would be a great start).

Imo, McCollum is the best player we can realistically hope to acquire this offseason.

[boscel33]

Fwiw, here's an article from the athletic suggesting that the C's could be interested in McCollum.

https://theathletic.com/2667978/2021/06/23/coaching-search-the-focus-on-neil-olsheys-offseason-cj-mccollum-on-the-trade-block-blazers-mailbag/

Terry Stotts is out as coach. There are rumblings that Damian Lillard is getting antsy. The calls for Neil Olshey to make a franchise-changing move are louder than ever. And the franchise’s commitment to CJ McCollum is once again being questioned.

Lillard’s 31st birthday approaches in July, and after another season in which Lillard went above and beyond to elevate the Blazers, only to be let down in the playoffs by lack of adjustments and lack of a supporting cast, there is a palpable sense of urgency coming from Lillard’s camp. Lillard wants to win big, and he wants to do it now, and following the Blazers’ first-round exit at the hands of a shorthanded Denver roster, it wasn’t hard to see Lillard’s frustration.

Olshey has acknowledged that over the years, any move of note — a trade or free-agent signing — has been first run by Lillard to receive his endorsement. If Lillard thinks Simmons could work, then that’s the type of move that gives the Blazers a chance to make an instant jump because it addresses their biggest weakness: defense. I’ve also heard Boston could be interested in a player like McCollum, and I’ve always thought Marcus Smart and his defense would be a great pairing in Portland (obviously it would take more to make salaries match, but Smart would be a great start).

Imo, McCollum is the best player we can realistically hope to acquire this offseason.

I agree, but it might take our starting PG to acquire him and CJ isn't a PG.  That leaves a major hole on the C's.

[mrceltics2013]

I feel like another scoring guard will just continue on with the issues the Celtics already had. As I have been thinking, although this is completely against the grain. Why not go in heavy on Embiid? I know we are asking for a guard, but would there still be a strong need for one if you have such an impact down low?

Embiid has to be double teamed, which would leave Tatum and Brown open. I can see Embiid requesting a trade and he only has 2 years left so he has leverage to actually force his way on whatever team he wants. Them keeping Ben could be another clear reason why he would want out.


Smart + Rob Williams + Neismith + 2 1st rounders (works in trade machine)

Embiid + Shake M


Injury woes for Embiid will be fine as we we will still have grant/Moses/Horford/TT/Tacko

Look to sign or sign and trade for; (hopefully on good contract)

Lou Williams
Spencer Dinwiddie
Otto Porter JR
Kris Dunn