The New Orleans Pelicans didn’t wait until the NBA draft to make their first major moves this offseason.
They did it on Tuesday, the eve of the draft.
The Pelicans are trading CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick to the Washington Wizards, according to a report by ESPN’s Shams Charania. In exchange, the Pelicans will receive Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and this year’s No. 40 pick.
McCollum spent 3 1/2 seasons in New Orleans after being acquired in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2021-’22 season. He played in 223 games and averaged 21.1 points and 5 assists with the Pelicans. McCollum had one year remaining on his $30.7 million deal.
Olynyk, meanwhile, was acquired from the Toronto Raptors in February as part of the Brandon Ingram trade.
Olynyk averaged 10.7 points and 5.9 rebounds in his 20 games with the Pelicans.
Poole, a 6-foot-4 guard, is entering his seventh NBA season. He played his first four seasons with the Golden State Warriors, who he won an NBA title with in 2022, and his last two with the Wizards. Poole averaged a career-best 20.5 points and 4.5 assists this past season. He scored a career-high 45 points in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Poole also set a Wizards' record for made 3-pointers in a season (235), eclipsing the old record held by Bradley Beal.
Poole has two years remaining on his remaining deal. ($31.8 million this upcoming season and $34 million in the 2026-'27 season).
Bey, a 6-7 forward, last played in an NBA game in the 2023-’24 season. He tore his ACL late in the 2024 while playing for the Atlanta Hawks. He signed with the Wizards last July but didn’t play.
The Pelicans now have three picks in this year’s draft, which will be held Wednesday and Thursday. In addition to the 40th pick, the Pelicans also have two picks (No. 7 and No. 23) in the first round.