The Blazers selected C.J. McCollum with the 10th overall pick in this summer’s draft, not necessarily knowing just how good the team’s guard play would be to this point in the season.
Portland, of course, has been one of the year’s biggest surprises, and has a won-loss record that places them among the league’s elite teams -- at least for now. They haven’t needed McCollum, which is good since he hasn’t played a minute for the Blazers after breaking a bone in his foot in October.
But he’s at the point in his recovery where he’s been cleared to play, and is expected to make his professional debut in the D-League this weekend with the Idaho Stampede. McCollum was assigned today, and he’ll be available when the team plays home games in Boise on Friday and Saturday, according to a team announcement.
McCollum dazzled in one of the more competitive games at Las Vegas Summer League, and was a dark horse pick by some to compete for Rookie of the Year honors before going down with the injury. Portland’s rotation is crowded at the guard spots, with Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews playing heavy minutes and Mo Williams providing support off the bench.
There’s no guarantee McCollum will get more than a cursory sniff at some floor time if the winning continues, but it’s nice to have a talented asset on the roster who can be brought along slowly until he’s ready to contribute to what’s become one of the league’s top teams.