A report has surfaced over the last few days detailing that the New York Knicks are monitoring CJ McCollum with an eye on trading for him. The Portland Trail Blazers star shooting guard isn’t likely to be available in a trade, but the re-building Knicks are smart to keep tabs on him regardless.
The New York Knicks are interested in CJ McCollum of the Trail Blazers
Stefan Bondy of NY Daily News had the report on McCollum and the Knicks’ interest in him and some other star guards.
"The Knicks have been linked to other potential trade targets in various reports, including Zach LaVine in Chicago, Victor Oladipo in Houston and Lonzo Ball in New Orleans. A source said they’re also monitoring Portland’s CJ McCollum, who is rehabbing from a broken foot and still has about $100 million guaranteed over three years after this season.The Blazers (18-10) have played well since McCollum’s injury, with shooting-guard replacement Gary Trent Jr. rising to the occasion. But it’s unclear if Portland is willing to deal McCollum."
The Blazers are very unlikely to trade McCollum. Not only is he their second-best player, but he had been in career-best form before his injury in January. There is also no player on the Knicks roster that the Blazers would desire.
Julius Randle may make sense, but he is a subpar fit with Jusuf Nurkic as he isn’t a great perimeter defender or floor stretcher.
Randle’s salary would need to be aggregated with another young guy for salary matching purposes, to make the trade work.
The Knicks are smart to inquire on McCollum, but it’s hard to see Neil Olshey wanting to move him in a trade, let alone New York, with their lack of players to send back in return.