The New Orleans Pelicans and the Washington Wizards have put pen to paper on a trade deal that sees the two teams exchanging veteran guards. CJ McCollum is on his way to the Wizards, and Jordan Poole is going to play for the Pelicans in Louisiana. In an offseason that has delivered some moves in the trade market for some of the biggest teams in the NBA, this is just the latest trade for the pundits and media to dissect. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that this offseason will see several teams making trades in an attempt to reconstruct their roster to compete with the top performers.
The trades are coming thick and fast this offseason in the NBA
While some teams opt to make trades early, most teams in the NBA will choose to wait out the NBA Draft before making major changes to their roster. Following Wednesday’s draft, we expect to see more teams dabbling in the trade market soon. The Celtics have been the most active team in the trade market leading up to the draft, with their trades of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis that freed up some cap room in Boston.
The biggest trade so far this offseason has got to be Kevin Durant being traded by the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets. The soap opera that was the KD trade situation concluded after nearly every basketball fan and TV personality gave their opinion on where KD might end up. Durant will play for the Rockets, and by signing KD, Houston quickly increased their championship prospects for next year.
What is the situation and motivation for both teams behind the trade?
The deal seems to benefit both teams in different ways, suiting both teams’ specific plans for the future. The Pelicans have been struggling to perform at their peak level, despite having one of the most prolific athletes in the NBA in Zion Williamson, who many feel is yet to reach his full potential and requires more direction and support from the Pelicans’ role players to perform better.
The Wizards, on the other hand, are in the early days of their rebuild, so to acquire a player of CJ McCollum’s status is aimed at helping mentor their young squad for the future. The deal seems to be more about the financials in Washington, as both McCollum and Olynyk are on expiring deals, and by trading them, they have opened up roughly $100 million in 2026 cap space.
What are the details behind the trade between the Wizards and the Pelicans?
As the bigger teams in the NBA are reshaping the foundation of the organization, the teams at the bottom of the rankings (the Wizards finished in last place last season) are looking to make significant trades and reshape their own foundations for the future. In the latest trade deal to light up the headlines, the two teams involved will receive:
- Pelicans receive: Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, and the 40th overall pick in the 2025 Draft.
- Wizards receive: CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, a future second-round pick.
Is this just the beginning of the saga of trades this offseason in the NBA?
As the season has now come to an end, the future of the teams in the NBA is exciting. CJ McCollum is the president of the NBPA and another solid veteran to go along with Marcus Smart in Washington to mentor their younger players. Jordan Poole was on the verge of greatness in Golden State before being punched by Draymond Green and leaving for good. Kelly Olynyk and Saddiq Bey have a lot left to prove to the basketball world. How will the Pelicans and the Wizards move forward after the NBA Draft? Will they make more trades?
