Pelicans trade CJ McCollum to Wizards in four-player deal

Two of the NBA’s worst teams are making a trade to shake up their respective rosters.

The Pelicans are sending CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick to the Wizards for Jordon Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday.

Washington (18-64) was the second-worst team in the NBA this season, while New Orleans (21-61) was the fourth-worst.

McCollum, 33, averaged 21.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 56 games. It was the 10th straight season he averaged more than 20 points a game.

The veteran guard is on an expiring contract, which carries a $30.67 million cap hit for the 2025-26 season.

Olynyk, acquired from the Raptors in the February Brandon Ingram trade, averaged 10.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game across 20 appearances for New Orleans in an increased role.

The 34-year-old is also on an expiring contract with a $13.45 million cap hit for next season.

Poole, 26, averaged a career-high 20.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds across 68 games in his second season with the Wizards after being traded by the Warriors two years ago.

He has two years left on his contract at $31.85 million and $34.04 million, respectively.

Bey did not play this season after tearing his ACL last year. The 26-year-old forward is entering the second season of a three-year, $20 million contract.

The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft takes place Wednesday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, with the second round being held on Thursday.