General Manager Neil Olshey and the Portland Trail Blazers brass have identified that they’ll have to upgrade from CJ McCollum as the number two option if they’re to compete for a title in the near future.
Finding a straight up swap for a better Robin for Damian Lillard in exchange for CJ will be a tall task, however. McCollum’s trade value is certainly lower than his value on the court due to his age, price tag, and weaknesses as a player.
Olshey will have to get creative if he wants to find a way to upgrade the roster in exchange for the guard out of Lehigh University. One possible option would be to trade McCollum for a high draft pick and identify a prospect that can help the team next season and quickly grow into a star. It’s been reported that Olshey does not want to trade CJ for draft capital, though.
A three-team trade involving CJ McCollum may be the Portland Trail Blazers best option moving forward
To find a suitable return for CJ, the best option for Olshey might be to get a third team involved. The teams that would be most interested in McCollum’s services are the ones close to title contention; otherwise known as teams with few assets they’re willing to move on from.
That’s why finding a good fit in return for him might require including a third wheel to make the pieces fit for every organization involved. Here are some three-team trades involving CJ McCollum that might be the Blazers best option for the future: