Entering his third season as a pro with no Wesley Matthews or Arron Afflalo competing for minutes, it's clear that CJ McCollum's responsibilities in Portland will increase heavily in 2015-16. The Lehigh product has already been picked by ESPN as a player to breakout next season, but Sports Illustrated's Rob Mahoney has gone as far as pegging McCollum as a favorite for the NBA's Most Improved Player Award next season. Mahoney writes:

"Next season will be a prime opportunity for (McCollum) to leverage his development in a bigger opportunity with obvious results. The timing is perfect; McCollum wouldn’t have been ready for this kind of change a year ago, but in the season since his off-the-dribble game has matured to the point of NBA viability."

McCollum carries averages of 6.3 points and 1.4 rebounds per game over his first two seasons in Portland. With increased minutes and a bigger spotlight next season, fans in Rip City are hopeful to see more of the McCollum that averaged 17 points per game and shot 47.8% from behind the arc in five games against the Memphis Grizzlies last postseason. Despite falling to Memphis 99-93 in Game 5 of First Round of the Western Conference Playoffs to end the Trail Blazers' season, McCollum capped-off his sophomore campaign in Portland with a 33-point outburst, shooting 7-for-11 form three-point range.