If the Portland Trail Blazers are to make a major move before the season ends, the most logical piece to be traded would be CJ McCollum. McCollum has been beloved in Portland, coming in with a true underdog story and growing into a true Robin to Damian Lillard‘s Batman for nearly the past decade.
The Blazers have found themselves at a crossroads though. They have a number one option capable of leading a championship team in Dame, but their supporting cast is just not up to par with the rest of the contenders in the league. That includes their number two in CJ.
Not only would upgrading from CJ to a better fit alongside Dame drastically raise the Blazers ceiling, but moving McCollum is also basically Portland’s only option at making a major move before the season begins.
What teams in the league could use CJ McCollum’s services?
While McCollum doesn’t fit what the Blazers need in their number two option, there are plenty of teams that could use his skillset—particularly his elite ability to create his own shot.
CJ can score from all three levels of the court, and score at a high-level from any spot. He’s in the upper echelon of shot creators in the league.
There’s not a single team in the NBA that couldn’t use a bucket-getter of his caliber.
At 29 years old though and with a $100 million contract to be paid over the next three years, there’s a niche group of teams who both fit his timeline and can afford to pay him or trade for him.
Here are the three teams that are most likely to trade for CJ McCollum: