New Orleans Pelicans Trade C.J. McCollum, Kelly Olynyk for Wizards’ Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey

Photo credit: Geoff Burke, Imagn Images

The New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards made a trade on Tuesday, with ESPN’s Shams Charania reporting that the Pelicans have traded veteran guard C.J. McCollum and veteran forward Kelly Olynyk to the Washington Wizards for guard Jordan Poole and forward Saddiq Bey. A future second round pick is also going to the Wizards, with the No. 40 selection in the 2025 draft going to the Pelicans. Per Charania, the move will grant the Wizards nearly $100 million in cap space in 2026. 

McCollum, set to make $30.1 million in 2025-26, is coming off a season where he averaged 21.1 points on 44.4% shooting (37.3% from 3-point range). The soon to be 34-year-old (September) played just fifty-six games as he dealt with foot injuries that kept him out for the remaining ten games of the Pelicans’ season. Olynyk, a stretch forward, averaged 8.7 points per game in forty-four games last season between both the Toronto Raptors and the Pelicans. He saw increased opportunity with the Pelicans, averaging 10.7 points per game while getting eight shot attempts per game. Both are veteran players who bring experience. McCollum is still a proficient 3-point shooter, his latest issue being his health. His expiring deal also gives the Wizards financial flexibility going into next offseason. 

Poole, who turned 26 years old on June 19, averaged 20.5 points per game on 43.2% shooting and 4.5 assists per game in 2024-25. He is a volume shooter but will give the Pelicans scoring and more youth. He has two years remaining on a four-year, $128 million deal at $31.2 million in 2025-26 and $34 million in 2026-27. Bey this past averaged 13.7 points per game on 41.6% shooting. He is 26 years old and can score some. The New Orleans’ lineup now includes Poole along with 28-year-old Dejounte Murray, 25-year-old Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson (who will be 25 years old on July 6), and 21-year-old Yves Missi. 

The move is the first deal for new Pelican president of basketball operations Joe Dumars.