Fansided

Blazers’ rookie CJ McCollum assigned to Idaho Stampede

By Matt Cowlishaw

facebooktwitterreddit
Jul 14, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Portland Trailblazers guard CJ McCollum takes a three point shot over the defending Los Angeles Laker forward Elias Harris during an NBA Summer League game at the Thomas and Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 14, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Portland Trailblazers guard CJ McCollum takes a three point shot over the defending Los Angeles Laker forward Elias Harris during an NBA Summer League game at the Thomas and Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

The long awaited debut of the Portland Trail Blazers 2013 1st round draft pick (10th overall), CJ McCollum, appears to be getting closer.

Portland announced today that McCollum has been assigned to the Idaho Stampede, their NBA Development League affiliate, per the team website.

McCollum will eventually add even more depth to a surprising Blazers’ team that has gone 25-7 so far this season – just a half game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (25-6) for the best record in the Western Conference – one game behind the Indiana Pacers (25-5) for the best record in the NBA.

Casey Holdahl, per TrailBlazers.com, caught up with McCollum a couple days ago just a week after the rookie out of Lehigh University was cleared for full practice after breaking a bone in his foot in the preseason.

McCollum didn’t have an exact return date, but hoped to be back soon, per the Holdahl report.

“We’re going over stuff right now,” McCollum said. “Hopefully I’ll be back soon. I know there’s no definite date penciled in yet, but hopefully we can get one soon to kind of get it going.”

Idaho plays again this coming Friday and Saturday.  Getting game action and back in the basketball mix with the D-League affiliate certainly points to a rapidly approaching debut for McCollum and good news for Blazers’ fans.

Home/NBA