James Harden trade: 8 players the Houston Rockets could get

Houston Rockets players to target in James Harden trade: 6. CJ McCollum

CJ McCollum has been the Robin to Damian Lillard’s Batman through his first eight years in the league and has proven to be able to light it up offensively, as proven by his scoring explosion of 44 points in his most recent game against the Houston Rockets. McCollum is an underrated scorer in his own right, as he’s finished within the top seven in made field goals in four of the last five seasons.

McCollum also finished ninth in 3-pointers last season and has averaged no fewer than 21 points in each of the last five seasons. McCollum is a career 39.9 percent long-range shooter, and his skillset would allow him to thrive alongside a true point guard like John Wall, who looks to get his teammates involved.

McCollum has improved as a facilitator in his own right, as he averaged 4.4 assists last season, which was a career-best for the 29-year-old guard. But for as steady and consistent that McCollum has been for the Trail Blazers, he’s raised his level of play entirely in 2020-21.

McCollum currently ranks sixth in the league in points, as he averages 27.9 points on a career-best 44 percent from deep, and leads the league in threes made thus far. McCollum also averages five assists and 1.7 steals per game, which both represent personal highs, and provide a glimpse of his overall skillset.

With James Harden having listed the Portland Trail Blazers as a team on his wishlist, the Blazers will certainly include McCollum as a part of any trade that involves Harden.

Next: No. 5