CJ McCollum Trade Rumors: Spurs Interested in Blazers Star; No Traction in Talks

The Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat are reportedly among the teams that could look to trade for CJ McCollum this offseason.

Jabari Young of CNBC reported there has been no "traction" on any talks that would send McCollum to San Antonio.

The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to consider their options across the franchise this offseason, and that may include trading McCollum. Portland already parted ways with longtime coach Terry Stotts on Friday as part of what's expected to be a franchise-wide assessment.

McCollum is an obvious trade target because he's the Blazers' best player not named Damian Lillard. He's also a highly interesting trade chip because it's difficult to assess his value around the league.

An excellent shooter and secondary ball-handler, McCollum can fit in seamlessly with nearly every team around the league. He's also never been an All-Star and turns 30 in September. The type of teams interested in acquiring McCollum are likely to be the ones the Blazers are competing against for playoff berths.

Of the teams listed as potential suitors, only the Cavaliers were not playoff contenders in 2020-21. Cleveland could offer a package that includes Collin Sexton and Kevin Love (for contract matching purposes), but that doesn't seem to particularly help either the Cavs or Blazers. Sexton, 22, is already putting up McCollum-like numbers, and the Blazers' ceiling isn't going to rise by adding an unproven young player and an increasingly diminished Love.

Young's report mentions a potential Paul George-to-Portland move, but McCollum and George are in different stratospheres as players. The Clippers are trying to win a title right now, so there's not much reason to take a step backward.

The Heat could offer an interesting package if they'd be willing to include Tyler Herro in the deal, but that doesn't help Portland take an immediate step upward. It'd be something to consider if the Blazers were entering a full-scale rebuild.

The Spurs, meanwhile, are almost completely lacking in trade pieces—both short and long term—that would interest Portland. They're a team that should seriously consider selling off parts and rebuilding rather than continuing to make moves that push them into the middle of the pack.