NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 01: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 01, 2020 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Trail Blazers 117-93, NBA Trades: 3 CJ McCollum trades to shake things up in Portland. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Despite the changes they made to their coaching staff and front office, the Portland Trail Blazers continue to be one of the most disappointing teams in the NBA this year.
Even with a superstar at the level of Damian Lillard, they are in serious danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in nearly 10 years. Obviously, not ideal for a team that could lose their biggest star soon.
With all the rumors of Lillard wanting out and potentially requesting a trade, Portland should be doing everything in their power to put the best possible team around him.
In the end, that could likely involve trading away Lillard’s co-star, CJ McCollum. What are three NBA trades the Blazers could pull off involving McCollum that would improve their title odds moving forward?
P.s. A Ben Simmons deal will not be included in this article, purely because that’s been brought up a million times.
NBA Trades: 3 CJ McCollum trades to give Portland a boost – New York Knicks
Knicks receive: CJ McCollum, Tony Snell
Trail Blazers receive: Evan Fournier, Derrick Rose, Nerlens Noel
This trade may seem weird, but it could actually end up helping both teams equally. The Knicks clearly need a go-to scorer, and they would get one in CJ McCollum.
McCollum would be an immediate upgrade over Evan Fournier, and while losing Derrick Rose stinks, getting a guy like McCollum would more than make up for it.
Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers would be getting three. quality rotation players to put around Lillard. Star power is important, but with the current duo not working, maybe they should try prioritizing depth.
Fournier and Rose would be guards that could play heavy minutes for Portland. Meanwhile, Nerlens Noel would give the Blazers an elite defensive big man to bring off the bench.
Portland Trail Blazers continue to be one of the most disappointing teams in the NBA this year.</p>
<p>Even with a superstar at the level of Damian Lillard, they are in serious danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in nearly 10 years. Obviously, not ideal for a team that could lose their biggest star soon.</p>
<p>With all the rumors of Lillard wanting out and potentially requesting a trade, Portland should be doing everything in their power to put the best possible team around him.</p>
<p>In the end, that could likely involve trading away Lillard’s co-star, CJ McCollum. What are three NBA trades the Blazers could pull off involving McCollum that would improve their title odds moving forward?</p>
<p>P.s. A Ben Simmons deal <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/05/nba-trades-cj-mccollum-trades/"https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/76ers-not-interested-in-a-ben-simmons-for-cj-mccollum-trade-with-trail-blazers-keeping-options-open/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">will not be included</a> in this article, purely because that’s been brought up a million times.</p>
<h2>NBA Trades: 3 CJ McCollum trades to give Portland a boost – New York Knicks</h2>
<p><strong>Knicks receive: CJ McCollum, Tony Snell</strong></p>
<p><strong>Trail Blazers receive: Evan Fournier, Derrick Rose, Nerlens Noel</strong></p>
<p>This trade may seem weird, but it could actually end up helping both teams equally. The Knicks clearly need a go-to scorer, and they would get one in CJ McCollum.</p>
<p>McCollum would be an immediate upgrade over Evan Fournier, and while losing Derrick Rose stinks, getting a guy like McCollum would more than make up for it.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers would be getting three. quality rotation players to put around Lillard. Star power is important, but with the current duo not working, maybe they should try prioritizing depth.</p>
<p>Fournier and Rose would be guards that could play heavy minutes for Portland. Meanwhile, Nerlens Noel would give the Blazers an elite defensive big man to bring off the bench.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/05/nba-trades-cj-mccollum-trades/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Trade #2 </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-440214" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/05/nba-trades-cj-mccollum-trades/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1296550017.jpeg" alt="NBA Trades, CJ McCollum" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1296550017.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1296550017-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">PORTLAND, OREGON – JANUARY 14: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers works against Malcolm Brogdon #7 of the Indiana Pacers in the third quarter at Moda Center on January 14, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>NBA Trades: 3 CJ McCollum trades to give Portland a boost – Indiana Pacers</h2>
<p><strong>Pacers receive: CJ McCollum, Nassir Little</strong></p>
<p><strong>Trail Blazers receive: Domantas Sabonis, Justin Holiday, Torrey Craig</strong></p>
<p>The Indiana Pacers are a very weird organization. They’ve made a constant commitment to competing for the playoffs, yet they’re never good enough to do anything once they get there.</p>
<p>After they announced that they were going to be selling assets earlier this season, most would probably think that they would look to start a long-overdue rebuild.</p>
<p>However, since they just hired coach Rick Carlisle this offseason, the trades they make might end up being more moves to help them win now, rather than rebuild for the future.</p>
<p>This trade would help them shake up the roster, add another young piece, and still allow them to be competitive right now. CJ McCollum has never been an All-Star, but he would give Indiana something they simply don’t have right now – a pure scorer.</p>
<p>McCollum would get the chance to be the main focal point of a team’s offense for the first time in his career. Plus, Myles Turner would finally get the chance to control the paint for Indiana.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers would re-shape what their team looks like. Adding a versatile power forward to replace their score-heavy guard could change things up enough to give them a boost.</p>
<p>Domantas Sabonis would fit great next to Lillard as a passing big man who can also dominate the post. As for Justin Holiday and Torrey Craig, they would give Portland two more two-way wings that could play heavy rotation minutes.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/05/nba-trades-cj-mccollum-trades/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Trade #3 </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-440215" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/05/nba-trades-cj-mccollum-trades/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1308033965.jpeg" alt="CJ McCollum, NBA Trades" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1308033965.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1308033965-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">PORTLAND, OREGON – MARCH 19: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots a three point basket against Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter at Moda Center on March 19, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>NBA Trades: 3 CJ McCollum trades to give Portland a boost – Dallas Mavericks</h2>
<p><strong>Mavericks receive: CJ McCollum</strong></p>
<p><strong>Trail Blazers receive: Tim Hardaway Jr., Dorian Finney-Smith, Maxi Kleber, 2022 First-Round Pick</strong></p>
<p>This is another trade where the Portland Trail Blazers would be looking to add depth instead of a second star alongside Damian Lillard.</p>
<p>In this scenario, Dallas would be getting a third star to put next to Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. CJ McCollum would give them a great scoring punch, as well as a secondary ball-handler.</p>
<p>This is something Dallas has supposedly wanted for a long time now – someone to lighten the ball-handling load off of Doncic for periods of the game.</p>
<p>McCollum has proven to be a quality second option in Portland, so there’s no reason he couldn’t continue to find that same success with the Mavericks.</p>
<p>For the Trail Blazers, they’d be getting three quality rotational pieces, just as they did in the Knicks trade. McCollum for depth is the common factor in these deals.</p>
<p>While Tim Hardaway Jr. hasn’t had the best season up to this point, he still can give a team 15-20 a night in his sleep. His scoring would help replace McCollum’s.</p>
<p>Then, Portland would be getting two solid two-way players to add to their bench. Dorian Finney-Smith is a versatile defender and a respectable three-point shooter, and the same can be said. about Maxi Kleber.</p>
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