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03/29/2024 04:05:00 am

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NBA Trade Rumors: Blazers Unwilling to Trade CJ McCollum, Evan Turner

Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard CJ McCollum

(Photo : Getty Images) The Blazers are unwilling to trade CJ McCollum or Evan Turner.

The Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly unwilling to trade CJ McCollum or Evan Turner even as the team is looking to make a roster upgrade with a deal before this season's trade deadline.

Bleacher Report indicated that the Blazers is planning "to make a trade to shake things up", but it should be something that does not involve either McCollum or Turner.

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Portland has signed the two players to long-term contracts in the last offseason with McCollum getting $106.6 million for four years while Turner receiving $70 million for four years as well.

With those huge amounts of investment, it is not surprising that Portland is not ready to trade either of the two wingmen at the moment.

The report said that not many teams would be interested in the 28-year-old Turner as he is considered as a ball-dominant wingman who "don't shoot, penetrate, or defend particularly well" and is being paid an enormous sum of money.

However, McCollum is projected to become a perennial target of interested teams and the club could be enticed by a lot of interesting offers coming each one of them.

With the Blazers committing that kind of cash for last season's Most Improved Player, it is understandable that Portland would want to keep him as long as possible. But if an irresistible offer comes along, which is possible because of the high value that McCollum has right now, the Blazers could give in depending on the price.

Some analysts believe that the backcourt tandem of McCollum and Damian Lillard is too small to take the Blazers all the way to championship contention, but the club has not given up on the formula just yet.

ESPN noted that while "the team isn't looking to trade McCollum or Turner", Moe Harkless, Allen Crabbe, or Meyers Leonard could be potential trade pieces.

However, it also said that Portland will not be able to land a high-profile player that would put them "alongside the likes of Golden State, San Antonio, and presumably Houston" if they will not include McCollum in the package.

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