The offseason trade frenzy rolled on Tuesday with a four-player deal between the New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards, which included a former Boston Celtics power forward.
The Pelicans sent CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, and a future second-round pick to the Wizards in exchange for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, and the No. 40 overall pick, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Olynyk, drafted 13th overall in 2013 out of Gonzaga, spent his first four NBA seasons with the Celtics from 2013 to 2017. Since then, he’s made stops with the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, and Toronto Raptors before landing in New Orleans last season.
The trade essentially swaps guards, with the Wizards shifting from the younger Poole to the veteran McCollum, who is also the president of the NBPA, while the Pelicans move in a younger direction with Poole and Bey. Both McCollum and Olynyk are on expiring contracts.
The Wizards, who also added Marcus Smart and Khris Middleton at the trade deadline, continue to build a veteran presence around their young core.
Olynyk, 34, averaged 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists for the Pelicans in 2024. During his time with the Celtics, he put up 9.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.