CJ McCollum has made great progress as he recovers from a collapsed lung. The Portland Trail Blazers announced that he has fully recovered and will be re-evaluated next week.
Earlier today, head coach Chauncey Billups told reporters that McCollum was doing cardio exercise again. The team's press release stated that McCollum has indeed been cleared for ânon-contact drills, increased conditioning, and shootingâ.
Following further evaluation, including a CT scan on Wednesday, @CJMcCollum's right lung is fully healed after suffering a pneumothorax earlier this month. đ
đ: https://t.co/CS15QE7dbD
â Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) December 24, 2021
This was a scary injury for McCollum, who was sidelined earlier this month. Through the first 24 games of this season, the 30-year-old has averaged 20.6 points, 4.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds. The Trail Blazers have gone just 2-6 without Damian Lillard's most important wingman and one of the better high-volume shooters in the NBA.
McCollum being back doesn't necessarily mean he'll be back for the Blazers for long. As the team searches for a new head of basketball operations, McCollum and Lillard will likely remain hot topics in trade conversations as the option of Portland heading into a rebuild remains a strong possibility.
Portland, at 13-19, is in 10th place in the Western Conference despite being relatively healthy, save for the absence of McCollum and a handful of games missed from Lillard. Welcoming McCollum back will certainly make Portland a better team but it won't address their key weakness, which is defense.
While the Blazers ease McCollum back into the swing of things, they will look to get back on track themselves.
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