SI

Pelicans, Wizards Swap Guards CJ McCollum, Jordan Poole in Pre-Draft Trade

It appears New Orleans is shaking up this roster.

Patrick Andres

CJ McCollum guards Jordan Poole in the spring of 2023.
CJ McCollum guards Jordan Poole in the spring of 2023. / D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
In this story:

In an apparent bid to reshape their roster, the New Orleans Pelicans are moving out a respected veteran.

The Pelicans are trading guard CJ McCollum to the Washington Wizards, according to a Tuesday afternoon report from ESPN's Shams Charania. Per Charania, the Wizards will send guard Jordan Poole back in the deal.

New Orleans is reportedly set to receive Poole, forward Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 pick in this year's draft. Conversely, Washington will receive McCollum, center Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round draft pick.

McCollum, 33, is entering his 13th season in the NBA. He remains best known for his nine-year tenure as future Hall of Fame guard Damian Lillard's running mate on the Portland Trail Blazers, though he has averaged more than 20 points every year since being traded in 2022.

Poole, a 2022 NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, averaged a career-high 20.5 points per game this past season.

More NBA on Sports Illustrated

feed

Published
Patrick Andres
PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .

Home/NBA