The Celtics could go two ways to remake their roster this offseason. They could go with a seismic shakeup and trade Jaylen Brown for another star to pair with Jayson Tatum, or keep their two young All-Stars together and acquire another piece that would compliment them.
Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum would fit into the latter category.
In a recent appearance on NBC Sports Boston, NBA Insiders Chris Mannix and Jared Weiss of The Athletic floated the possibility, even though it doesn't seem as if the Trail Blazers are currently shopping the veteran scorer.
"I should first say, from what I've been told, CJ McCollum has been told he's not getting traded this offseason, so it may be a moot point, but I think CJ is the kind of player that would complement Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown well," Mannix said. "He's a lead guard, he's offensive-oriented, he's played alongside a volume scorer in Damian Lillard before, so some of this is not going to be new for him. And I think a change of scenery would do CJ McCollum well."
McCollum, 29, averaged 23.1 points per game last season. His contract expires at the end of the 2021-22 season, fueling the trade speculation. Earlier this month, McCollum said the rumors don't bother him.
"I'm not offended brotha," he wrote on Twitter. "I came from nothin. To more than something. I work hard, show up and do my job to the best of my ability. Everyone has a right to their own opinion. Even if that means they want to see me traded. It's a part of life when you play this sport. Blessings."
Following Portland's first-round exit, star point guard Damian Lillard expressed his apparent discontent with the organization on Instagram. "How long should I stay dedicated?," he posted. "How long til opportunity meet preparation?"
Lillard just signed a super max extension with the Trail Blazers last year, so Portland will probably do all in its power to keep him around. The Blazers fired head coach Terry Stotts immediately after their latest short-lived playoff run.
With that in mind, it would seem counterproductive for the Blazers to trade McCollum, since he's their second-best player. There's also the question of what the Celtics can offer. Besides Brown, the roster is pretty bare.
"How do you even get CJ McCollum if you're the Celtics?," Weiss asked. "Does Portland want to bring in Al Horford at this point? I assume they're not going to make that flip. Marcus Smart could be an answer, along with a bunch of good young players, to maybe get some more playmaking depth around Damian Lillard. But you've got to remember, Portland's goal right now is to convince Damian Lillard that they are gonna win with their new coaching hire in the next year or two."
Brad Stevens opened up financial flexibility when he swapped Kemba Walker for Horford, saving about $9 million in salary. Now the challenge is using it.
That's easier said than done.
