The Portland Trail Blazers brought Damian Lillard home to Oregon almost 12 months ago, allowing him to recuperate and reignite his career with the NBA franchise closest to his heart. Fans are now counting down the days until he returns to the court this October, but what if he was to be joined by an old friend? One of the first things General Manager Joe Cronin did after taking over the front office was move CJ McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans at the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline. A necessary first step parting with the franchise’s then-second highest-paid player on a roster that wasn’t cutting it. In the nine years he spent in Portland, McCollum averaged 19.0 points, 39.6 percent from three, 45.3 percent from the field, 3.4 boards, 3.4 assists and 0.9 assists. These numbers become even more impressive when you consider McCollum averaged fewer than 16 minutes a game through his first two seasons. To further highlight his third-season rise, McCollum won the 2015-16 NBA’s Most Improved Player after lifting his average to 20.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. The Blazers should consider signing McCollum for the MLE to strengthen their roster and provide Lillard with a reliable backcourt partner.