Magic vs. Trail Blazers Tuesday NBA injury report, spread, odds: Portland's CJ McCollum out ahead of trade to Pelicans

It might be smart to back the Orlando Magic for a potential upset in Portland on Tuesday night because the Trail Blazers, who already have sold off a few key players, are finalizing a deal to send their active leading scorer, CJ McCollum, to the New Orleans Pelicans for Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Tomas Satoransky and draft compensation. Portland has dipped from -3.5 to -1 at Caesars Sportsbook vs. the Magic with the expectation McCollum is out. The Blazers have won 10 straight in the series. 

Frankly, the Blazers might be a fade candidate the rest of the season as the team already shipped out Norman Powell and Robert Covington in a salary dump to the Clippers for Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson and a 2025 second-round draft pick. Bledsoe and Johnson aren't healthy enough to play for Portland yet and Winslow isn't very good.

Damian Lillard leads the Blazers in scoring at 24.0 ppg but has been out for weeks due to injury and isn't close to returning. Thus, McCollum is the active team leader at 20.5 ppg – and fifth in franchise history in points overall -- while also averaging 4.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds. He has never been named an All-Star. 

The Magic won't miss seeing McCollum as he had averaged 25.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists in his last five games against Orlando. Portland won 98-88 in central Florida on Jan. 17. 

Assuming this deal goes through, that takes the Blazers out of the Ben Simmons Derby because McCollum was really their only piece of interest for Philadelphia assuming Lillard is untouchable. The Knicks were also after McCollum. There is talk that Portland center Jusuf Nurkic could be dealt at any time as well, with the Toronto Raptors a rumored landing spot. Larry Nance (currently injured) and Tony Snell were also sent to the Pelicans. 

It's an interesting trade for New Orleans, which is obviously trying to at least make the Western Conference play-in tournament as the Pels currently sit 10th. McCollum is certainly better than Hart. New Orleans hosts Houston tonight so we can presume Hart (13.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg), etc., won't play. 

Below is the SportsLine Projection Model forecast for the Blazers and Pels after this trade but also assuming Zion Williamson is back shortly after the All-Star break for New Orleans. 

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