Teams are calling the Trail Blazers to inquire on guard CJ McCollum and offering the opportunity for Portland to move into the “top part of the draft,” according to Jason Quick of The Athletic. However, Quick reports that the Blazers aren’t seriously considering those offers, since they’re in win-now mode and are seeking veteran help rather than rookies.
As Quick details, the Blazers are open to a trade that would allow them to acquire an upgrade on McCollum. However, there are no obvious opportunities out there. A swap revolving around McCollum and Ben Simmons has long been the subject of speculation, but Quick suggests the Sixers likely wouldn’t be enticed by such a deal, even if Portland adds a young player like Anfernee Simons or Nassir Little to its offer.
Here’s more on the Blazers from Quick:
- Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey has met twice with Damian Lillard since the season ended. They had a three-hour sitdown on June 19 at the team’s practice facility and then met in Las Vegas with new head coach Chauncey Billups last Friday, per Quick. During those meetings, Lillard conveyed his publicly-stated preference that the Blazers act with more urgency in upgrading their roster.
- Despite Lillard’s call for urgency, it remains to be seen whether Portland will do anything drastic with its roster this summer. Quick says “there appears to be an inclination to run this group back again” in the hopes that Billups’ influence and a full season of Powell raise the Blazers’ ceiling. Quick acknowledges that exercising patience would be a risky approach, given Lillard’s unease, but points out there are some similarities to 2018, when the club made few roster changes after being swept in the first round and then reached the Western Finals in 2019.
- Re-signing Norman Powell is the Blazers’ top priority in free agency. Billups recently met with Powell in Las Vegas and “communicated his vision” to the veteran swingman. The team hopes the hiring of Billups helps convince Powell to remain in Portland.
- Olshey recognizes that building a bench led by Carmelo Anthony and Enes Kanter contributed to the team’s defensive shortcomings and will aim to add “long, rangy” players who can guard multiple positions and comfortably switch on defense, according to Quick.
- The Blazers will likely try to buy a second-round pick in next Thursday’s draft, says Quick.
Teams don’t care about luxury tax
Blazers
Warriors
Clippers – big city
Nets – big city
Knicks – big city
Lakers applied for $4.6 million under the stimulus package that Congress passed in March, 2020.
lol
Trade Idea
76ers get Sexton and McCollum
Cavs get Anfernee Simons or Nassir Little
Blazers get Simmons
My take:
Fair for the blazers
Not enough for the cavs
Cavs get the rare end of the deal
Raw*
Lol
No way the cavs give up sexton for either of those guys,there would have to be a pick involved
Long, rangy player who can guard multiple positions? Sounds a lot like Derrick Jones Jr
Derrick Jones is not a great on ball defender. He is only a good weak side help shot blocker.
Referring to Otto Porter type of player.
I think he’s looking for a team like the Miami Heat circa 2015-2018
I think he’s just saying that to sound modern at the dinner… He wants some wild wings and weck.
Olshey needs to stop kissing DL’s butt and get busy resetting this roster, so that the team, with DL, has a better chance to be successful in the last stage of his career. Nothing could be more feeble than a FO type looking for cover from his star before making moves, especially when they are long over due. Cover isn’t needed for good moves, and won’t save a bad one.
Breaking: Portland will not make the splash for Beal and will ultimately move Lillard to the Mavericks next season
It’s pretty obvious CJ gas to go. It’s only way they will upgrade team. Hawks man go talk to the Hawks.
Sign Powell, trade CJ.
As a Sixers fan I’d do McCollum for Simmons if we also got Covington back, you guys can have George Hill.
Maxey McCollum Covington Harris Embiid, I’d be happy with that.
So would every other team in the east. Removing Simmons defense is going to hurt Philly massively. What’s the old adage about a rock and a hard place? Seems to be where most teams are falling this year
Simmons definitely would be a loss defensively but have to remember Embiid and Thybulle also made all defensive teams. Covington has made all defensive teams in the past aswell.
It would be a loss but it wouldn’t be that insane. What would out weigh his loss would be the spacing and scoring of McCollum and Covington over Simmons and Green. Plus the impact that spacing would have giving Embiid more room down low, and better shooters to kick out too. Harris would also have easier match ups cause often teams put PFs on Simmons and Harris had teams best wing defenders on him.
Blazers been running it back for like a decade now.
Why wouldn’t the Sixers take McCollum for Simmons? They won’t get more than that for him.