CJ Trade Value?

[Euphonetiks]

What is the trade value of CJ McCollum?

PREMISE - The Pels are not going to pay the tax for this team next year. It is also highly unlikely that Griffin would trade Ingram. That leaves us with few options, but to trade CJ. This last month has shown that we need to build around Zion. A former Pels blogger noted that we need a better fit as Zion defers to CJ too much at this point. To an extent CJ also blocks Trey Murphy and his offense as a 3rd option is a luxury. The former Pels blogger suggested as likeliest trade partners young teams that want to stop losing and would value CJ's leadership.

NUMBERS - CJ has 2 years left at $33.3M and $30.5M. This season CJ has put up 18.7/4.4/4.2 with a career high .589 TS%. CJ altered his shot profile considerably this season and is shooting 41.7% from 3 on 8.1 attempts per game. He has also gone from a liability on defense to just about league average (0.11 D-LEBRON, -0.1 DBPM). Off the court, CJ provides a young team leadership and lessons in maturity as noted by Zion's progression from unserious man-baby to mostly locked in.

NEEDS - Pels need a better fit. Our biggest need is a more versatile big, but could also use a lead guard somewhat. Whatever archetype comes back, playing with Zion, they must be able to stretch the floor and have a semi-competent handle.

ASSETS - We do not view CJ as a negative value contract, not looking for a salary dump, but we do have picks, Dyson Daniels, and Jordan Hawkins available for upgrades and Larry Nance for extra salary.

[Mavrelous]

He's not a positive asset at this price with the new CBA, I do think there are some teams who should pursue him, mainly young teams that needs a vet leadership on and off court, Orlando Magic comes to mind, and the Pistons to lesser extent (they need vets but they also need better talent).

[BeiBeau]

There just really isn’t a large market for CJ. Anybody who is paying assets for CJ is most likely bidding against themselves.

[BlazersBroncos]

CJ into cap space (DET, maybe SAS) is the best I can see.

[Mike lorenzo]

I think he's a great fit for MAGIC..they can afford his remaining 2 years..while their young guards finish developing and he really fills a big hole...simply paying CJ instead of Harris/Ingles seems like a big improvement.. .
Taking it to salary space, with nothing back, would be a good deal for both...

(I also think WCJ would be an ideal fit in NOP if they wanted to do something bigger....)

For NOP alternatively I think they should move Ingram too, especially (apart from the fact that I don't love his fit with Zion and his recurring health problems) I think Murphy has a star in the...
So what would something like that look like?

CJ+Okongwu to MAGIC

CJ/Suggs/Wagner/Banchelo/OO
Cole/Black/Howard/Isaak/Wagner

Ingram+DDaniels to HAWKS

D.Murray+WCJ

Murray/Herb/Murphy/Zion/Carter

[jayjaysee]

NOP doesn’t need to trade CJM into pure cap space though.

They can take back a good amount of money next season and still build the roster up and avoid the tax.

I tnink CJM into pure cap space works, Detroit/Orlando/SAS offer enough teams with some interest that the Pels get it done without costing an asset.

And if NOP is willing to take 20 some million back, like they can, I think there’s a few more teams that would be interested.

For an unrealistic take..

What third team / assets go into

Joe+Giddey for CJM

Where OKC thinks Joe is going to get too big of offers in 12 months for the role they have, so you get paid to sell your cap space one last time and take the upgrade for two years before Jalen/Chet get paid

[toooskies]

If he is traded, it is likely as salary ballast in a deal where the vast majority of the value is in young players and/or picks included in the deal.

[Skybox]

I've wanted him in ORL for years...but that ship has sailed. I'm afraid that last couple of years on his deal might get ugly.

Great guy. Great player...just not a good bet for a team on the rise anymore, imo. I could certainly be wrong. I thought Lillard was washed too.

[Wolveswin]

If he is traded, it is likely as salary ballast in a deal where the vast majority of the value is in young players and/or picks included in the deal.

This.

NOP needs a consolidation trade. Yes, their roster is about to get very expensive (Ingram extension, Zion already paid, few years Herb and Murphy extensions plus having to pay for a center), but they need the missing piece and have assets to acquire said piece.

[Wolveswin]

I think something around these 3 teams:

To Hawks: Towns + Wolves Filler

To Pels: Murray + Capela (I can see argument for OO)

To Wolves: Murphy + McCollum + Daniels

Value to taste and all three teams win.

Hawks get Trae another star in Towns.

Pels get a win-now PG, a center, and solve money problems with Murray value deal.

Wolves get a forward replacement starter for Towns in Murphy, PGOF in Daniels, and McCollum as super 6th man - who is expensive but less expensive than Towns.

[esvl]

The problem with CJ is that he needs a ball in hands to deliver his value. There is no much off-ball value, if any. So I can only think of California or Canada.

[WinterSoldier]

The best case I think they can do is trade him with additional assets for someone like Dejounte Murray, Zach Lavine, Anfernee Simons, Klay Thompson.

[JRoy]

The best case I think they can do is trade him with additional assets for someone like Dejounte Murray, Zach Lavine, Anfernee Simons, Klay Thompson.

POR won’t be doing a reunion tour with CJ.

[WinterSoldier]

The best case I think they can do is trade him with additional assets for someone like Dejounte Murray, Zach Lavine, Anfernee Simons, Klay Thompson.

POR won’t be doing a reunion tour with CJ.

I wasn't saying Simons specifically, I was just saying a guard type that could be used by NOP.

[BlazersBroncos]

Joe+Giddey for CJM

I wouldnt move either of thsoe guys for CJ.

Giddey is just too young and talented and despite his warts I dont swap him for a non-D playing iso centric undersized guard on a big deal and with age against him.

Joe is too cheap next year and likely can be retained as a specialist shooter for much cheaper than CJ.

OKC wants the ball in the hands of SGA / Jalen as well (And Josh, but here he goes out). CJ is being shopped here b/c they want the ball in Zion and BI's hands more - its the same issue w/ OKC as to usage and fit as in NO.

I am excited to see CJ after this contract - think his age 35-37 seasons he FINALLY will be a low enough salary to justify what his role should have been the whole time - 6th man. He could be a Jason Terry level guy for a contender at that point on a MLE type deal.

Until then, on this deal, I dont see much hope for a legit return.

[jayjaysee]

Joe+Giddey for CJM

I wouldnt move either of thsoe guys for CJ.

Giddey is just too young and talented and despite his warts I dont swap him for a non-D playing iso centric undersized guard on a big deal and with age against him.

Joe is too cheap next year and likely can be retained as a specialist shooter for much cheaper than CJ.

OKC wants the ball in the hands of SGA / Jalen as well (And Josh, but here he goes out). CJ is being shopped here b/c they want the ball in Zion and BI's hands more - its the same issue w/ OKC as to usage and fit as in NO.

I am excited to see CJ after this contract - think his age 35-37 seasons he FINALLY will be a low enough salary to justify what his role should have been the whole time - 6th man. He could be a Jason Terry level guy for a contender at that point on a MLE type deal.

Until then, on this deal, I dont see much hope for a legit return.

You zoomed out of the part where I asked what value is needed, which takes away the point of doing the trade for OKC. Maybe I should have put more focus on that though.

CJM is being shopped because NOP shouldn’t pay the tax for him and needs to improve their defense around their stars.

In OKC, he’d get to play with strong defensive guards and be asked to play a similar role to the one you describe. And they wouldn’t face the tax until he expires and costs a lot less to end his career behind Cason/SGA once Jalen/Chet are paid.

So what does NOP add to get Joe for CJM while creating a CJM TPE to go get Murray or…. Then what does SAS pay to get Giddey.

Then the deal looks completely different from CJM for Joe/Giddey.

[Mamba4Goat]

If he is traded, it is likely as salary ballast in a deal where the vast majority of the value is in young players and/or picks included in the deal.

I agree with this and it’s probably the right way for NO to go. CJ on his own is at best neutral value but probably closer to negative value.

[Mamba4Goat]

For a trade though NY wouldn’t be a horrible destination in a Capela to Pels, Bojan to Atl, McCollum to NY type trade. The only issue is NY’s closeness to the tax and lack of match salary/the need for a fourth team to take the other player(s) due to NO/Atl also being relatively close to the tax.

[zimpy27]

Is CJ any better than DLo? They seem like the same type of player to me and produce similarly.

Except one is younger and cheaper, and that one doesn't seem to have much value around the league. So I highly doubt CJ does

[theBigLip]

The OP says the Pels don’t see CJ as a negative contract, but I think they do, or at least a neutral one, especially if they are concerned w their cap.

Pistons have more cap space than anyone next year. They actually don’t have any bad contracts to send back and not interested in getting rid of our young core. So the only thing we would trade would be picks. Seconds

This may not seem realistic but free agency isn’t what it used to be. Great (and good) players get their best extensions w their current team and force trades later if needed. So the new free agency is a couple of quality UFAs, and a lot of guys around the MLE. So it’s better for a team like Detroit to be patient this summer. If Pels are a first round exit, need some cap room to make improvements, and need to stay under the cap and haven’t dealt CJ, at some point they will gift him away. Pistons should be looking for these deals.