The Portland Trail Blazers’ decision to trade C.J. McCollum marked the end of a solid era of Blazers basketball, even if it didn’t yield a title.
For years, McCollum and Damian Lillard kept the Blazers competitive and entertaining, routinely cementing themselves as one of the teams to beat in the Western Conference.
But things had begun unraveling in Portland, and it was clear as this season went on that changes were coming. And while Lillard was out with an injury and the trade deadline nearing, Portland moved McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans.
For Lillard, losing the man he played alongside for years was a tough reality.
“When the trade happened, it hurt me, it did hurt me to this day,” Lillard said on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast with Shannon Sharpe. “I still tell C.J. all the time, even now when we still talk I’m watching these games (and I say) I can’t believe you play for the Pelicans. It’s crazy. And he’s telling me it’s been cool, but it’s weird. It’s different for (him).
“Me and C.J., we weren’t just teammates,” Lillard continued. “It’s tough to deal with, and I think the fact that I haven’t had to actually play without him has allowed it to be more of a smooth transition than it would be if I was actually playing, it would be real weird for me. But that one hurt me to this day.”
Lillard is 31 and the McCollum trade suggests that the Blazers are committed to rebuilding. They have a bunch of players out for the season, so this campaign is a lost cause for Portland. McCollum does seem to enjoy playing with the Pelicans, who have the potential to be a legit threat in the West whenever Zion Williamson actually is healthy -- although that might not be until next season.
All told, the Lillard and McCollum-led Blazers made the postseason every year they were together, which began in the 2013-14 campaign. They made it to the conference final once and the second round two additional times, bowing out in the first round all other years.
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