The New York Knicks already have made headlines using a midseason trade when they acquired Cam Reddish from the Atlanta Hawks. While still early, that deal has not yet lived up to the hype that came from the immediate reaction of the reporting of a deal getting done. They may not be done ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
With the Portland Trail Blazers already having moved on from Norman Powell and Robert Covington, they are among the NBA’s top teams to watch as sellers ahead of the trade deadline. A means to recalibrate the roster around Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons would logically suggested a CJ McCollum trade could be next.
According to Marc Stein, the New York Knicks are increasingly being viewed as a ‘legitimate trade suitor’ to land CJ McCollum from the Portland Trail Blazers. The New Orleans Pelicans were previously ‘leaders’ in the trade pursuit but that is no longer the case.
The most interesting trade scenario I heard all weekend: Two rival teams say that the Knicks are emerging as a legitimate trade suitor for Portland’s CJ McCollum. The Pelicans, until now, have been most frequently mentioned as the leaders of the McCollum chase if another trade materializes for the Trail Blazers after their Friday deal with the LA Clippers to send out Norman Powell and Robert Covington.
In the days leading up to the NBA trade deadline, two teams that have warranted close attention as a potential McCollum suitor include the New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks. Both teams could use another shot creation threat in their backcourt rotation.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Blazers Expected To Trade McCollum; Mavs, Pelicans Linked
There are limitations that both the Pelicans and Mavericks face when it comes to facilitating a potential trade for McCollum—depending on what they’re willing to part with to get something done. It appears as though Jonas Valanciunas not being on the table in trade discussions has unravelled the Pelicans’ outlook for McCollum.
League sources say that the Pelicans, no matter how the next few days play out for them, are trying to fortify their Zion Williamson/Brandon Ingram/Jonas Valančiūnas/Herbert Jones core. Translation: Valančiūnas and the emerging rookie defensive ace Jones are indeed off limits. That also means Josh Hart, who has had an outstanding season but who possesses a very tradeable contract, could indeed move this week.
The Dallas Mavericks, on the other hand, need to pay Jalen Brunson in the offseason as he will be hitting free agency. They also need to be ready to give Dorian Finney-Smith a significant raise, too. However, they stand to benefit whether McCollum were to be dealt to the Knicks or if they were the team to get a deal done.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Blazers Expected To Trade McCollum; Mavs, Pelicans Linked
Jalen Brunson has been linked frequently to the New York Knicks and if CJ McCollum were traded to them by the Portland Trail Blazers, that’s one less motivated suitor to pursue the Mavericks guard this offseason.
