Phoenix Suns: One blockbuster trade option for CJ McCollum

Many fans hope the Phoenix Suns can make a big splash this offseason. One trade experiment would land Portland Trail Blazers’ star, CJ McCollum.

Damian Lillard, whom I have grown to respect since he stood up and requested to the NBA that they replace him with Devin Booker for the All-Star team, was quoted by former Phoenix Suns head coach, Earl Watson, saying he didn’t want to join a super team, he wanted to stay in Portland and beat super teams.

You have to respect that mentality. But with that said, you have to have a “Big Three” to pull that off.

Back in the olden days, teams like the Celtics, Lakers, and Knicks literally had Hall of Famers at all five positions. Of course, they won championships!

Those teams were the original “Big Five” teams, however, to win a championship these days you have to have at least a “Big Three.” In my opinion, that means at least one bonafide star and a couple of solid All-Stars, a feat hard to accomplish with 30 teams.

The Phoenix Suns have one star but need more.

The Suns just got their first star, Devin Booker. It took almost five years for the light bulb to go off for Devin Booker to get him there this season, credit Monty Williams.

But as I said, they only have one star now and they will still only have one star 365 days from now if they do nothing as some have suggested. Having the Suns stand pat is just backward thinking and how 20 teams in the NBA operate.

Now, you don’t go out and make a trade or sign a free agent just because you can. But doing nothing is why teams are always drafting late in the lottery. The Suns need to make a  move this offseason to get another star to team up with Devin to move the Suns forward.

After this coming season, there will be a who’s who of free agents becoming available in the offseason of 2021. There are literally 16 All-Stars and almost a dozen Kelly Oubre quality players…which btw includes Kelly Oubre.

I feel it’s important to take off the floaties and jump into the deep end and make a deal this year.  Here is one potential trade that I think is going to get the Suns another star.

Why would Portland do this?

I strongly believe that playing two mighty-mites at the guard position, has run its course for the Blazers. As the saying goes, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result”.

This trade gives them two quality players in starting roles. A pass-first point guard that can score and make life easier on star Damian Lillard as he has proven this year with Devin Booker. In addition, they are getting a player in Oubre capable of getting 18 points to 20 points a night and playing some defense, which they haven’t had since Nicolas Batum seven years ago!

Why would the Phoenix Suns do this?

Like Devin Booker, CJ McCollum is one of the premier shooters in the NBA. This season, McCollum averaged 22.2 points while shooting 45 percent from the field, and 38 percent from 3. He also added 4.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists while sharing the point guard duties.

During the last game of this bubble season against the Lakers without his running mate Lillard, his line read 36 points, seven assists, six rebounds on 52 percent shooting, 43 percent from deep.

Both Devin Booker and CJ McCollum are locked up until 2024.

One of the best reasons for this trade after the dust settles is that the Phoenix Suns will have $50.5 million in cap space with five positions left to fill.

Suddenly you can offer Serge Ibaka a 1 year $20 million dollar offer (preserving the money for 2021), resign Dario Saric for $10 million, and still have $30.5 million.

Can CJ play with Booker? He played with Damian Lillard, and you know Booker respects Dame. They would make it work.