The Portland Trail Blazers have shown no indication of a willingness to shift gears and move one of their two main cogs in Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, but if they ever decided to, the latter is more likely to be the one heading out the door.
Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer explained this sentiment in his latest season-opener eve musing, arguing that Lillard has already been etched as the team's franchise player.
“There have always been whispers in league circles that Portland should break up the Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum duo, but there has been no indication it will. Portland is a playoff bubble team, though, and has few other avenues to make noteworthy changes. To make a leap, a breakup could be necessary, and could yield a significant return considering Lillard and McCollum aren’t free agents until 2021. Lillard remains the face of the Blazers, so McCollum should be the player more likely to be moved. But the Blazers would also need to consider which player is more likely to stick around once they both hit free agency in 2021.”
Lillard has expressed his integration with the city of Portland, making it his new home away from home and detailing his deep connection with the franchise, hoping to end his career the right way by pursuing a championship with the team that once drafted him.
McCollum has shown no signs of seeking a different environment, but he's grown to be the relative spitting image of Lillard when it comes to his offensive game, making him more expendable than the very face of the franchise — if asked to choose between the two.
As it is, the backcourt duo has shown no clear avenue to ultimate success in the West. They came the closest this past season, getting the third seed and consequently getting smoked by the sixth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans, maybe peaking a little too early before the playoffs approached.
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