The New Orleans Pelicans entrance workplace has had a ton of questionable strikes ever since taking up final yr. The determination to commerce their unprotected first-round decide within the 2026 NBA Draft for Derik Queen has been broadly criticized and could have an enduring impression on the franchise. That transfer has overshadowed one other baffling commerce Joe Dumars & Co. made final summer time.
New Orleans acquired Jordan Poole from the Washington Wizards in alternate for a bundle centered round CJ McCollum. With how poorly Poole’s season went in New Orleans, how properly McCollum has been taking part in, it is time to re-grade the commerce from a Pelicans perspective.
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Pelicans Receive: Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, Micah Peavy (No. 40 decide in 2025 NBA Draft)
Wizards Receive: CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, 2031 Second-Round Pick
The Saddiq Bey acquisition is actually an enormous win. The 26-year-old ahead has had the very best season of his profession in New Orleans and is on a team-friendly contract that the Pelicans would love to increase. Two-way wings who can perform a little little bit of all the pieces are useful within the NBA, and the Pels have discovered a strong rotation participant in Bey.
The Peavy acquisition may be thought-about an incomplete grade. He has proven flashes early within the season, however fell out of the rotation within the second half of the season. As a 24-year-old rookie, Peavy was imagined to be extra NBA-ready than most of his classmates. Whether the Pelicans discovered a steal within the second spherical or not stays to be seen.
The most essential facet of the commerce is popping McCollum and Olynyk into Poole. The Pelicans gave up $44 million of expiring wage and received again one of many worst contracts within the league. New Orleans paid Poole $31.8 million this season and owes him $34 million within the 2026-27 season. The 26-year-old guard could not see the courtroom for the Pelicans for a lot of the season. When he was on the market, he was as inefficient and disengaged as ever.
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It’s not possible to think about that the Pelicans will have the ability to commerce Poole with out giving up extra property. They both have to think about shopping for him out subsequent season or let his contract expire on the finish of the season, which signifies that they may have a $34 million useless wage on their books subsequent season.
McCollum, however, has been a starter for one of many hottest groups within the league for the reason that commerce deadline. He was dealt to the Atlanta Hawks through the season, alongside Corey Kispert, in alternate for Trae Young. As a Hawk, the 34-year-old guard has been higher than Young, averaging 18.6 factors and 4.1 assists in 28.8 minutes per recreation. Atlanta has a whopping +10.5 internet score with McCollum on the ground, and is headed to the playoffs within the Eastern Conference.
The Hawks can now re-sign McCollum on a way more favorable deal for the workforce. He will price considerably lower than Poole whereas producing rather more on the courtroom. If the Hawks need to transfer on from him as a substitute, they may create cap house, one thing the Pelicans lack resulting from their monetary dedication to Poole.
If the Pelicans hadn’t made this commerce, they might virtually actually be higher this season. They may have used McCollum within the first half of the season, and he may have given them veteran competence and strong offense. The Pelicans then may have traded him for a constructive return.
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Having Bey on the roster is sweet, but it surely would not make up for the expensive downgrade going from McCollum to Poole, not solely on the courtroom, but in addition on the books. Bey saves this from being an F, but it surely’s exhausting to go above a D.
Grade: D-
This article was initially printed on www.si.com/nba/pelicans/onsi as Re-Grading Pelicans’ Disastrous Jordan Poole-CJ McCollum Trade .
