Breaking up the band: Part One – A CJ McCollum trade
After the disappointing first-round loss to the Denver Nuggets, talks began again of the need to break up the Blazers’ backcourt. The Nuggets won that series 4-2 without their starting guards.
One reason to break up the backcourt is the need to spread out talent to the forward positions. The other reason is to try and improve the defense at the guard positions. So let’s talk about what the team could look like if they decide to trade CJ McCollum.
What kind of players could Portland get for McCollum?
My first thought is that any package for CJ would have to be oriented behind an automatic upgrade at one of the forward positions. Trade ideas that involve picks and a lesser talent won’t get it done. Moving CJ means cashing out your best trade chip to get the team closer to contention and get Dame to stay loyal to the franchise.
It wouldn’t make sense to trade CJ for another guard with the Norman Powell signing, as Powell performs better at shooting guard than he does as a small forward. Portland already has its CJ. A trade for a center wouldn’t make sense with Nurkic still on the roster, so most likely, you’d end up with a trade where Robert Covington would take on the opposite forward spot of whoever would be coming back in any CJ trade scenario.
Two players I’ve heard mentioned in a possible CJ trade scenario are Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris. Portland and Philadelphia have a weird connection right now, It seems. I firmly believe the 76ers would jump on a Harris for McCollum trade, but Portland would rather snag Ben Simmons. Philadelphia is hanging onto Ben Simmons as the centerpiece of any outgoing Damian Lillard trade if he should become available. It’s become a little dizzying.
Another name I’ve heard mentioned in trade rumors is Pascal Siakam. Siakam would give the team the kind of top-notch talent at power forward that they lacked since LaMarcus Aldridge bailed.
Let’s look at what those players would look like in a Blazers uniform.