The Portland Trail Blazers are on the clock. No, it's not draft night but it might as well be. With the NBA trade deadline right around the corner, the Blazers are a team that keeps popping up in rumors. The reason for that is CJ McCollum.

According to rumors, multiple teams are interested in the SG. One team, in particular, the Philadelphia 76ers. But will the Blazers make a move? For the past two years, McCollum's name has been mentioned as trade bait and every year nothing happens. But this might be the year a blockbuster goes down.

But why would the Blazers move one of their best pieces? Simple, the team has not met expectations in the past or this year. Heading into the New Year, the Blazers are struggling. A team that features Damian Lillard, Hassan Whiteside, Carmelo Anthony, and CJ McCollum should not be struggling to stay above. 500.

This season, McCollum had struggled to start the year. But lately, he has turned it around. In 2018, he averaged 21.0 points per game while hitting .459 percent of his shots. This season, he's up to 22.3 points and hitting. 458 percent from the floor. Every year, the Blazers get on this run to close out the season which gives them and their fans hope for a deep playoff run.

Sooner or later, the front office will have to address the real issue at hand. The Blazers' backcourt is not big enough for Lillard and McCollum. Thanks to the Golden State Warriors, teams have tried to pair two premier scorers but it hasn't worked. The Houston Rockets tried it with Chris Paul and James Harden only to trade Paul to the Oklahoma City  Thunder for Russell Westbrook during the offseason. And the results for that pairing have not been great either.

The same can be said for the Washington Wizards with Bradley Beal and John Wall. Both great players, but together, they can't seem to get things right. This puts the Portland Trail Blazers in a tight spot.

Do they break up one of the best backcourts in the NBA? Yes, they have no choice if winning is their ultimate goal. Lillard is a great player but he's more of a scorer than a facilitator. Moving CJ McCollum for a PG may be the best play the Blazers have. Plus, they will get back at least a first-rounder. And, depending on the team, that could turn out to be a high pick.

Trading McCollum to Philadelphia could give the Blazers exactly what they need in veteran players and picks. The rumors have Al Horford and Jason Richardson heading to Portland. That will give the Blazers a great post player in Horford who has not been the once efficient player he was the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics. Swapping McCollum for Richardson will give the Blazers a better defensive presence on the perimeter.

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Now, the Portland Trail Blazers will deny any trade talks but there is a good reason for that. For one, they don't want to create a hostile environment within the locker room and the organization. The other is McCollum's contract.

According to Yahoo Sports, a 76ers and Blazers trade would not be considered a smart move for the Blazers. This past July, the Blazers and CJ McCollum agreed to a new three-year deal for $100M which takes its total to five years. Also, a trade can't be struck until January 30th.

It appears to be no animosity between McCollum and Lillard but if the losing continues, that could change quickly. Even with the addition of Carmelo Anthony and the jolt of energy he has brought to the team, there appears to be a lingering issue. While the Blazers will never point the finger at Lillard, it's CJ that will have to be the scapegoat.

Although the Blazers have been at full strength due to the injury to Jusuf Nurkic who has yet to play this season. If he was healthy, maybe this wouldn't be such a hot topic before the deadline. But this has been a lingering issue for the Blazers the last few seasons. How long can the Blazers continue to sit back and wait for it all to come together?

Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum have been together since 2013 and have not advanced to one NBA Finals appearance. Not many teams will allow this to continue before major changes are made.