Blazers Coach Terry Stotts Discusses What's Next For Rookie G CJ McCollum

Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts discussed what's next for rookie guard CJ McCollum in his return from a foot injury. McCollum was assigned to the D-League's Idaho Stampede on Wednesday for a two-game stint.

What's the plan for CJ McCollum?

The plan is for him to play in Friday and Saturday night's games in Boise and then come back here, we've got a practice on Monday.

Will he be ready to play for you guys at that point?

We'll see how he is, we'll see how this weekend goes, we'll see how practice goes, and then we'll make decisions after that.

What's the goal for him down there?

Conditioning, game-ready, trying to simulate game conditions. It's not a simulation -- it is game conditions. He hasn't played, other than Summer League, 2013 -- he didn't get a lot of run in 2013. It's important that he gets out there, plays the game, play in an NBA game.

How do you balance getting him time vs. keeping the rotation the same?

We'll talk about that when he's activated.

His role in Idaho

He's going to be primarily used in the off guard position, I doubt that he'll play any point. We'll want to simulate when he comes back here -- Mo [Williams], Damian [Lillard] and Earl [Watson], he's not going to have a lot of point guard opportunity if he plays. It's important -- we're trying to simulate the role he would have here, he'll come off the bench in Boise. Simulating as much as we can the situation that he would have here.

Will you play smaller lineups more often when he's back?

I'll talk about CJ when he's activated.

McCollum broke the fifth metatarsal of his left foot during training camp, and he discussed the injury right here. He underwent an ultrasound procedure to treat the injury in mid-October and had been listed as out indefinitely since. McCollum underwent a follow-up in mid-November and a CT scan in mid-December, and he was cleared to practice on Dec. 20 after being cleared for three-on-three action on Dec. 12.

McCollum previously broke the fifth metatarsal in his left foot back in January 2013, and he underwent surgery after sustaining that injury. His initial recovery timeline after that injury was set at 8-to-10 weeks but he did not return for the rest of the 2012-13 NCAA season. McCollum did not participate in the skills portion of the Chicago pre-draft combine in May but he went through a solo workout with the Blazers in June.

McCollum, 22, was taken with the No. 10 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. He averaged 21 points, 4 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 34.6 minutes over five Summer League appearances.

Update: Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports reports that McCollum's debut could come on Tuesday, which is in line with what Stotts suggested above.

Portland Trail Blazers rookie guard C.J. McCollum is expected to make his NBA debut on Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings if his NBA Development League stint over the weekend goes well, a source told Yahoo Sports on Thursday.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter