Portland Trail Blazers: 3 players who likely won’t be back next season

Portland Trail Blazers not likely to return No. 1: CJ McCollum

I hate to say it, but I think it’s time the Portland Trail Blazers move on from CJ McCollum. He has become a fan favorite in Portland and will always be remembered for what he did in that game seven victory in Denver in 2019 to get to Blazers to the Western Conference Finals. But after multiple seasons of not being an elite team with a backcourt of Lillard and McCollum, it’s time to try something new.

McCollum is entering his first year of a $100 million extension, and besides, Damian Lillard (who should be untouchable) has the most trade value on this Blazers roster. He has averaged 20 plus points per game in six straight seasons, and this last year was arguably his best one before he got hurt.

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McCollum is an elite shooter and scorer and is one of the best one-on-one players in the NBA. I’m sure he would like a chance to get out of Lillard’s shadow and try to prove that he can run a team, be the go-to guy on a nightly basis and try to make an All-Star team himself. After eight seasons, I think moving on would be beneficial for both parties.

Ever since McCollum started performing well consistently, he has probably been one of the most talked-about players in trades during the summer or at the trade deadline. For years, people have been saying the Blazers can’t be legitimate contenders with two small starting guards who both are offensive-minded. The team’s front office often disrupted that notion, but after another first-round playoff exit, they might have to start considering it.

I think regardless if there is a coaching or GM change in Portland that McCollum will be traded. He had a very disappointing 2021 playoffs, and if he would have been better, the Blazers are likely playing in the next round. He and Lillard are close friends, but this is a business, and Portland has to improve their roster, and trading McCollum is one of the first ways of doing that. It will not be easy to trade McCollum, and I will get into some trade ideas for him another time.