C.J. McCollum of the Portland Trail Blazers dribbles the ball in a game against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland. (Photo : Getty Images / Ezra Shaw)
The 2015-16 NBA Most Improved Player is set to continue his career with the team that originally drafted him. Guard C.J. McCollum and the Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a four year contract extension worth $106 million.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, the agreement has no player option nor trade kicker. The extension is set to begin after this coming season, where McCollum will earn roughly $23.9 million, a massive leap from the $3.2 million he is set to earn this season, his final on his existing rookie deal.
The former number 10 pick of the 2013 NBA Draft made headlines last season when he averaged a career-high 20.8 points and 4.3 assists while appearing in 80 out of a possible 82 regular season games. It was the first season since Blazers head coach Terry Stotts placed him in the starting lineup. Because of McCollum's production and the leadership of Portland star Damian Lillard, the Blazers were able to overcome the loss of All-Star big man LaMarcus Aldridge to make the playoffs and ultimately advance to the second round before they were eliminated.
With this new commitment by the Blazers to pay their starting shooting guard, there is a possibility that Portland might be in luxury-tax territory during the 2017-18 season. According to Kevin Pelton in an ABC News report, approximately $111 million is committed to only eight players starting that season. This is also due to the fact that backup guard Allen Crabbe recently signed for four years, $75 million, as well as recent free agent pickup Evan Turner, who signed on for four years, $70 million. The Blazers also kept restricted free agent center Meyers Leonard with a four-year, $41 million contract. However, these problems will come after this coming season, so in all likelihood, decisions will be made depending on how the Blazers look on the court this year.
McCollum and Lillard proved to be one of the best starting backcourts in the league last season, and this new deal for McCollum offers them continuity and familiarity as the Blazers look to improve on their ranking from last season and slowly make their way to the top of the Western Conference.
