Breaking NBA Trade: CJ McCollum On The Move As Pelicans Pull Off 4-Player Deal

CJ McCollum suffered through a dreadful New Orleans Pelicans season in 2024-25, as the team posted the third-worst record in the NBA at 21-61. He's now on the move, but will continue to be stuck in NBA purgatory, as the Pelicans have sent him to... one of the only two teams with a worse record this year, the Washington Wizards.

The New Orleans Pelicans are trading CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick to the Washington Wizards for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2025

The Pels also send center Kelly Olynyk to DC, in return for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and a second-round pick (40th overall) in this year's NBA Draft tomorrow night.

McCollum is a 12-year NBA veteran, averaging just a tick under 20 points per game over the course of his career. He's also shot 39.7% from three-point range. He will bring professionalism and experience to the rebuilding Wizards—unless they turn around and flip him.

Poole landed with the Wizards back in 2023, after an altercation with Draymond Green at training camp before that season, in which Green punched Poole in the face.

Poole's first year with the Wiz saw his scoring take a dip of three points per game to 17.6, but this past year he not only was back up to the 20 ppg mark, he also shot a career-high 37.8% from three, and showed some maturity not seen before. He averaged 20.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

As for Bey, has missed the entire 2024-25 season, recovering from a torn left ACL. He could be a sneaky good add in this deal for New Orleans, as the small forward was once thought of as a core piece of the Detroit Pistons after he was a first-round selection in the 2020 Draft. He's averaged 14.1 points and 5.2 rebounds in four seasons in the league.