Damian Lillard trade rumors: CJ McCollum addresses speculation about Trail Blazers star
CJ McCollum has some bad news for NBA teams hoping that Damian Lillard will soon become available in trade talks.
During an appearance on “The Woj Pod” with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Trail Blazers guard spoke on several topics, including the speculation surrounding Lillard and his future with the franchise. Ever since Portland fell to Denver in the first round of the NBA playoffs, rumors have swirled about Lillard’s status, but McCollum believes his longtime backcourt mate is “all-in” with the Trail Blazers ahead of the 2021-22 season.
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“I have a pretty good sense of where he’s at, and I think his goal is to win a championship. At the end of the day, that’s what we all want. We want to put ourselves in the best position to win a championship,” McCollum told Wojnarowski. “He’s all-in. I think, at this stage, I can say that he’s all-in. He just wants to win at the end of the day.”
Lillard has consistently pushed back on the idea that he would force his way out of Portland this summer. In multiple media sessions during the U.S. men’s basketball team’s gold-medal run at the Tokyo Olympics, the six-time All-Star told reporters there had been “a lot of talk” not coming from him, adding that he will address any concerns “directly” with Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey.
McCollum echoed his teammate’s message, saying that Lillard doesn’t need anyone to speak on his behalf.
