There is a clear hierarchy in the Portland Trail Blazers rotation heading into Wednesday's season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder. There's the top seven and then there's everyone else.
The first seven includes returning starters LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard, Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez, along with free agent veterans Chris Kaman and Steve Blake as the clear-cut contributors.
The rest of the roster will compete for the final two or three spots in coach Terry Stotts' rotation.
"Like I said all along we've got our starters Steve and Chris. Those guys are pretty set and then after that it's going to be situational," Stotts said after practice on Monday. "The minutes are still up for grabs. All those guys got to be ready for the opportunity when it comes."
Stotts' rotation during the preseason suggested that CJ McCollum and Joel Freeland would be next in line for minutes. However, with just two days left before opening night and Stotts declining to announce a definitive rotation, McCollum is just trying to make sure he is prepared when and if his number is called.
"My job is to make sure I'm ready to play every night. Regardless of the decision coach makes I have to stay ready," McCollum said.
McCollum, the former No. 10 overall pick, is entering his second season in the league and put together a solid preseason averaging 10.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists. The 6-foot-3 combo guard says he feels more comfortable in his second year than entering his rookie season, in which he missed the first 35 games with a foot injury.
"A lot more comfortable. It comes from getting reps. It comes from having half a year under your belt and kind of getting more acquainted with the system, but I'm definitely getting more comfortable each night," he said. "I'm definitely confident because I've put so much time in, put so much work in and I feel like it's going to all pay off."
McCollum will compete for time as the back up shooting guard and could also see minutes at point guard. He already has the seal of approval from one of the team's stars. When asked which teammates was poised for a breakout season following preseason and training camp, All-Star point guard Damian Lillard thought for moment before declaring McCollum would be next in line.
"CJ's looked really good in practice and really good in games. I think he's just a lot more comfortable now," Lillard said. "He's going to be a guy that can come in score the ball and make plays, handle the ball and take pressure off us guards. So I can see him coming in and really helping us."
McCollum bristles at the idea that he needs to be defined as either a point guard or shooting guard. Instead he insists that he is simply 'a basketball player' and can contribute in a variety of roles. Billed as a scorer coming out of Lehigh, McCollum continued on Tuesday with the same mantra he's had since summer league in Las Vegas: To play consistently he has to make an impact on defense.
"I definitely feel like I can help this team and I obviously have to continue to get better on the defensive end. I think I'm working towards that," he said. "Offensively I'm pretty gifted and I have a lot of different skill sets that I think I can offer to the team. But at the same time there's going to be nights when you get to show a lot of stuff and nights where you're playing more of a role and defending and not getting as many shots."
While he might not have a defined position or role on the team heading into the season, McCollum does have some job security. On Monday, the Blazers exercised a team option on McCollum's contract for next season.
He'll need patience and experience in order to carve out his role with this team, but at least he's guaranteed some time figure it out.
-- Mike Richman | @mikegrich