Portland Trail Blazers: 3 reasons to trade CJ McCollum for Pascal Siakam

Mar 28, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum (3) steals the ball from Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the third quarter at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum (3) steals the ball from Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the third quarter at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports
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Mandatory Credit: Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports

Reason #3 – he is a true power forward

The Blazers for some reason don’t invest heavily in the power forward position.

Last season they had role player Robert Covington there, who is really more of a small forward when you consider his physical makeup, and skillset.

The year before, and as a backup this season, they had Carmelo Anthony.

Both of these guys are just six-foot-seven, and neither of them are particularly good finishers at the rim, or get there or to the line very often. Covington is a great defender, and with a huge wingspan he can still guard fours and some fives, but he is more of a help defender than a great man defender.

Anthony is obviously a poor defender now, and not a great rebounder anymore either.

If the Blazers decided to invest in the power forward position, by bringing Siakam in, they would have a true post-up threat who was still able to get those better looks at the basket. He gets to the line at a strong rate too.

He is an excellent passer at that position, as well as being a strong rebounder and rim protector.

Siakam can also force turnovers because of his huge seven-foot-three wingspan.

The Blazers need to invest in players at the three and four. By trading for Siakam, moving Covington to the three and then Norman Powell to the starting two-guard, the Blazers get longer, more physical, and don’t lose too much on offense either.

It’s time to reset this team, and that should start with a Siakam for McCollum trade.