Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum has been allowed to shed his walking boot and will advance to the next stage of his rehabilitation, according to a team press release. McCollum, who was examined on Tuesday, will be reevaluated again in two weeks. McCollum suffered a small hairline fracture to the lateral cuneiform against Atlanta on January 16.
We have more injury news:
- Timberwolves wing Jarrett Culver has been upgraded to on-court activity this week, according to a team press release. He suffered a left ankle sprain against Golden State on January 25. Culver is expected to be reevaluated next week, with potential to return to play late next week.
- Clippers forward Paul George, who hasn’t played since February 3 due to bone edema in his right toe, will miss Wednesday’s game against Utah, the team’s PR department announced. Kawhi Leonard, who sat out against Miami on Monday due to a left lower leg contusion, is listed as questionable.
- Nets guard Kyrie Irving was ruled out on Tuesday due to back tightness. Coach Steve Nash said it’s a short-term issue and that Irving should return soon, Adam Zagoria of the New York Times tweets. Brooklyn plays the Lakers on Thursday and Clippers on Friday.
I think Portland will trade McCollum in the offseason. They have been better with him out of the lineup. Kind of like Conley & Utah, although I wouldn’t say either team is better per say, but these guys are extra on their current teams.
I’d be interested to see what they get for him. He started the year the blazers best player. His averages are still 27-4-5 shooting 44% from deep. I’d hard to judge what teams would be interest and how much they’d give up.
I’d think a 3 and D SG would be a good replacement like Oladipo but I can’t see that.
Maybe something like Aaron Gordon, Terrance Ross, and Cole Anthony for CJ McCollum, Derrick Jones Jr and Andrew Simons.
Big deal which means unlikely but possible.
Blazers get Aaron Gordon for the PF spot and he will be productive, you get Terrance Ross as a 6th man who would provide lots of scoring and lastly you get Cole Anthony as a back up to Dame. Eventually Cole can take over from Dame who is already 30, Cole and Adams have a similar skill set and mentality so I think he would be a great leader for him. They can continue to play Trent Jr in McCollums spot, move Covington to SF and open up PF for Gordon. Off the bench Anthony Hood Ross Melo and Kanter form and really good second unit which would out score a lot of teams.
Magic get an upgrade over Fournier at the SG position in CJ who can help Vuce in giving the Magic a good playoff spot and making them really competitive. He can also help Fultz with his game, having also had a huge jump in his career being a former most improved player.
Jones Jr is also a good get cause he fills the SF position the Magic have struggled to fill for a while and opens up the PF spot for Isaacs when he returns. Jones Jr and Isaacs would form a nice duo with good physical skill sets. Lastly you get Simons who would serve as the back up combo guard and push Fultz. He’s also really skilled and could do well in a bigger role in Orlando. Orlando would not only have a better SG and SF but you’d also have a better youth set up with Fultz Simons Jones Jr Issac and Bamba 1-5 all young and developing but you still have the likes of CJ Vuce Fouriner Aminu and what not that are leaders and keep you winning games.
Utah is 6-0 without Conley but was 18-5 with him—
which prorated, would still be the BEST NBA record!
Aaron Gordon deal looks promising!
Gary Trent Jr is putting up better numbers than Dipo since McCollum went down, why they should trade McCollum. I’d take Dipo + draft compensation, but otherwise if I was Portland I’d be aiming for a PF or true SF.
Blazers should trade CJ for multiple solid bench pieces
McCollum is one of the few 30-ish guys with 3 or more years of a monster contract outstanding that I’d value (positively) in a trade. He’s got a great skill set for the modern game. I think he’d be more impactful in another situation. Although there’s always a risk he won’t be, in that he’s never been in another one.
If I were the Knicks, I’d offer Randle for him straight up. No picks, no roster reconstruction; although they can have Payton or Frank if they like. Deal would also immediately give the Blazers some significant space between their payroll and the tax line, which continues going forward.
Great idea for everyone, I think it would take Randle+ one of those guards and maybe 1 or 2 2nds but if NYK likes CJ that should be done in a NY …….
Hell with picks, if Im Knicks, I Want a player w multiple years under contract … Not much out there in fa next year.
I’ve been really surprised the more big games Trent Jr has & Simons is also getting more reps & time successfully, that there isn’t more chatter about McCollum, since Lavine, Beal & Oladipo freqent the NBA trade rumor mill this season so often.
Because teams have been eyeing CJM for years and Olshey acts offended when they inquire.
“Why can’t the city of Portland have two allstar guards?— Well excuuuse me for asking”