Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum — the franchise cornerstones of the Portland Trail Blazers — are similar in many ways.

Both players were undersized, overlooked high school prospects signed by unheralded universities. Both players proved scouts and college coaches wrong when they broke school records and emerged as world-class offensive talents. Both players were drafted in the top 10 in consecutive years, as their potential quickly became impossible to ignore. Both players equip the Trail Blazers with the second or third most talented backcourt in the NBA — a nightly threat to ignite for a combined 80 points and defeat opposing teams by themselves.

But in the same way that both players share each other’s strengths, they also share each other’s weaknesses. Both players are undersized, below-average NBA defenders. In fact, both Lillard and McCollum have the same exact individual defensive rating for each of the past four years, according to Basketball Reference.

per Basketball Reference

In the Western Conference, Portland regularly plays against the league’s most talented backcourts (Warriors, Rockets, Thunder, Spurs). Making a playoff run with a defensively vulnerable backcourt will be challenging, to put it lightly. It will be almost impossible, to put it realistically.

Since 2015, the Blazers have given up 106.4 points per 100 possessions when both Lillard and McCollum are on the court. Neil Olshey designed a roster to negate his backcourt’s defensive weaknesses. But in doing so, he’s acquired players without a strong offensive skill set (See: Noah Vonleh, Evan Turner and Maurice Harkless).

per NBA.com

Given Lillard and McCollum’s individual defensive ratings of 110 since 2015, it’s fair to discern the Blazers’ backcourt is largely responsible for the team’s defensive vulnerabilities. When Lillard is on the court without his partner in crime, the team’s defense improves slightly. When McCollum is on the court without Lillard, Portland’s gives up 2.5 fewer points per 100 possessions.

Now that you’ve endured the SAT-style reasoning, I’ll get to my point: Historical data shows us that if you don’t have a defensive rating under 105, you can’t win an NBA championship. With their two most impactful players on the floor, the Blazers aren’t quite below the threshold.

per Basketball Reference

This season, both Lillard and McCollum’s individual defensive rating — as well as the Blazers’ rating as a team — has improved. But as the season continues, it’s fair to expect a regression. Lillard and McCollum are undersized for their position, and they exert an immense amount of energy on the offensive end because of Portland’s lack of weapons. As long as this duo stays together, ultra-talented backcourts around the Western Conference will find ways to expose them — especially in a long playoff series. As gifted as they are on the offensive end, Lillard and McCollum’s defensive vulnerabilities ultimately limit Portland’s potential.

Even whispering the idea of trading Lillard or McCollum will provoke a Blazers fan into hysteria. And I get it; the Blazers have had a near-impossible time acquiring free agents and convincing their own players to stay with the franchise. Now they have two of the most exciting guards in the NBA, and some asshole millennial who writes about basketball on the Internet wants to trade one of them?!

I’m more than willing to be an asshole millennial; I think the Blazers have a better chance of achieving postseason success if they trade one of their star players. I also think both players would maximize their talents by splitting up (more on this later). While both guards are offensively gifted, they aren’t necessarily complementary pieces.

Lillard would benefit immensely from taking less shots, becoming a more efficient scorer and playing alongside a defensive guard.

McCollum has another level he can reach; he needs an opportunity to take more threes, less long twos and get to the line more. And like Lillard, McCollum would benefit greatly playing alongside a guard who could absorb more defensive responsibilities.

This creates a series of difficult questions for the Blazers: Which guard do you choose to build your team around? Which players do you trade for in return? How does the loss of one guard affect the other?

I’ve broken down the two options below.

Keep Lillard and Trade McCollum

Lillard’s offensive impact on the Blazers is insane. Since 2015, he has a higher usage percentage than John Wall, Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving. He’s the Blazer’s unquestioned offensive initiator, an underrated passer and gets to the rim at a terrific pace for someone his height.

And he should be doing a lot less.

Lillard takes too many contested threes for a player shooting 34.7 percent on deep balls this season. In fact, he’s only shooting 42.3 percent from the field because of poor shot selection. He would improve his production if the Blazers surrounded him with a defensive-oriented shooting guard and more offensive weapons. He needs to become more efficient.

Think about Kyrie Irving before and after going to Boston.

per Basketball Reference

The improvement in Kyrie’s game this year is due to better shot selection, more open three pointers and more free-throw attempts. He went to a team with a better bench, improved spacing and better defense. If Portland traded for more shooting, depth and defense, Lillard could see a similar improvement in his efficiency.

ESPN’s Trade Machine

Jimmy Butler checks every box for the Blazers: exceptional defender (career 105 defensive rating), shoots the three pointer well (36 percent this season) and has the star power to keep fans happy. Swap Zach Collins (no one will care) to Chicago for sneaky good, 22-year-old Bobby Portis, who’s averaging 13 points and seven rebounds while shooting 39 percent from three this season.

A lineup of Lillard, Butler, Maurice Harkless, Portis and Jusuf Nurkic, with Nemanja Bjelica (shooting 51 percent from three this season) coming off the bench improves Portland’s backcourt defense, provides more depth and improves their overall three-point shooting.

Choosing to build around Lillard instead of McCollum is definitely the “high floor, low ceiling” option. Lillard has demonstrated his potential as an NBA player; a different roster isn’t going to elevate him into another category, but he could become more efficient. With this roster, Portland has a better chance of making a playoff run.

Keep CJ McCollum and Trade Damian Lillard

This option is way more interesting and potentially very risky. If you’re someone who believes McCollum has another level to reach — that he could become a multiple-time All-Star and contend for a scoring championship — then this is your trigger to pull.

I believe McCollum has another level to reach.

Remember when James Harden was the third option in Oklahoma City? He was painted as the second or third best player on a championship team; an off-ball scorer who didn’t initiate the offense, never passed and didn’t go to the free throw line very often. Then, Daryl Morey and the Rockets said, “Hey, we want you to come to Houston and become the face of our franchise.” Harden reached a new level.

per Basketball Reference

Harden needed to remove himself from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to discover his dynamic offensive skill set. He needed more shots.

Like Harden, McCollum needs a franchise to hand him the keys and let him discover his potential. Right now, McCollum is one of the best “tough shot makers” in the league and a pull-up monster. He is an A+ three-point shooter (according to 2K), and has a crafty mid-range game. Similar to Harden in 2011–12, McCollum doesn’t score much inside (only 15.6 percent of FGA are from within three feet this season), doesn’t initiate offense for others and is only taking 3.2 free throws per game.

CJ has another level he can reach with regards to: Free throws/interior scoring, assists, more threes, overall more usage.

per Basketball Reference

McCollum needs the opportunity to take more threes, attack the basket and initiate offense for others. If the Blazers committed to building around McCollum, they could yield an absolute fortune for Lillard. They’d need to acquire a defensive-minded, pass-first point guard and another star player that defends and keeps the floor spread for McCollum.

ESPN’s Trade Machine

Eric Bledsoe is the perfect point guard to maximize McCollum’s value; he defends at a really high level, he’s a 33 percent career three-point shooter, and although Bledsoe doesn’t record many assists, he’s a willing passer who’d be more than happy deferring to McCollum.

And to top it all off, how about an old-fashioned superstar-for-superstar, Blockbuster trade? ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Tuesday morning that Anthony Davis is longing “for a well-run, well-balanced franchise.” Does Portland qualify? The Blazers send Lillard to New Orleans to be with his good friend Demarcus Cousins, and Rip City welcomes Anthony Davis to Portland in the biggest trade since….. ever? By the way, Davis’ unibrow will blend in perfectly on Alberta St.

Consider this crunch-time lineup: Bledsoe, McCollum, Turner, Al-Farouq Aminu and Davis. That group defends, shoots threes and allows McCollum to take more shots.

Maybe I’m completely nuts and overthinking this. Maybe trading a foundational guard like Lillard or McCollum is a panic move that will piss off loyal fans and set the franchise back a decade. Maybe the Blazers best option is to hold on to their two stars, continue to draft and develop prospects and find pieces that complement their backcourt.

Except, that’s been the Blazers’ plan for the past three years, and it hasn’t worked.

The Western Conference’s plethora of All-Star guards — Curry, Klay Thompson, Russell Westbrook and Harden — aren’t going anywhere. Neil Olshey has whiffed on big men in the draft for years instead of selecting wings who can score, and his roster has suffered.

Rather than being the victim of a first-round playoff loss and once again taking a mid-to-late round draft pick, why not flip one of your best assets, address your weaknesses and take a chance on building a championship roster?