People may suspect the Washington Wizards are only beginning their aggression when it comes to shaping a roster to their liking. With CJ McCollum on an expiring deal, given his age, it’s hard to believe the Wizards will lock him into a long-term deal as they are going through a rebuild. With that being the case, McCollum appears to be the perfect trade candidate for many teams in the NBA. Here are some of the top teams that may look to trade for McCollum this season.
1. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are unquestionably in a win-now mode with LeBron James and Luka Doncic locked in as their primary stars. James is over 40 years old, so the clock is ticking for him. McCollum would be an ideal complementary piece next to dominant playmakers like James and Doncic. This is the case because he is proven as both an off-ball scorer and an occasional facilitator (he averaged 21 points and four assists last season).
In LA’s system, adding McCollum could open up spacing and ease the offensive burden on James and Doncic, making the Lakers more of a threat offensively. Given McCollum’s ability to move without the ball, hit threes, and function in secondary creation roles, the fit is a match made in heaven because this would make James and Doncic more balanced offensive players, as they can score more easily next to McCollum.
2. Houston Rockets
Houston might be another logical landing spot. Their guard position took a hit with Fred VanVleet suffering a season-ending injury, and they also have a young lead guard in Amen Thompson, who may not yet be ready for full starter duties as a starting point guard in the NBA. McCollum would fill the starting point-guard role while alleviating pressure on the young Thompson, allowing him to develop in a less high-stakes environment. Houston could benefit from McCollum’s veteran presence and floor spacing in the backcourt.
