With the NBA Finals officially over, the offseason is in full swing as teams across the league pivot to make major roster improvements. In New Orleans, the Pelicans are the latest team to mix things up after a shocking trade that sent CJ McCollum to the Wizards for Jordan Poole.
Full Trade Details
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, 2025 No. 40 pick
Washington Wizards Receive: CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, future second-round pick
It’s a stunning point guard swap between two struggling NBA franchises, but both teams can now move forward with hopes of climbing out of the lottery. Specifically, the Pelicans get younger with Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey, while the Wizards get some added cap flexibility by taking on McCollum’s expiring contract.
“The trade swaps guards — the Wizards shifting from Poole to the veteran in McCollum, who has an expiring contract. Washington is now expected to approach $100 million in projected cap space in 2026,” wrote ESPN’s Shams Charania on the trade. “Pelicans move younger, possibly more dynamic with Poole and Bey.”
This is just one of many expected trade moves this offseason. This summer, in what is being described as a “weak” free agent market, trades are the best way to improve, and teams are feeling more pressure than ever to start making deals.
In this case, the Pelicans knew they needed to change following another disappointing season, where they finished 14th in the standings. With a core centered around Zion Williamson, the Pelicans swapped their streaky veteran shooter for a younger player with more upside and championship experience.
Poole, for all his flaws, is still an elite scorer at his position. In 68 games last season, he averaged 20.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game on 43.2% shooting. After falling out with Draymond Green, he was exiled from the Warriors and has since struggled to find his place, but a spot alongside Zion Williamson could begin a fresh start that makes him a positive for the Pelicans. Getting a versatile young player like Saddiq Bey in the deal is a major bonus.
Meanwhile, the Wizards get to move off Poole’s expensive contract in exchange for some veteran leaders (McCollum and Olynyk) and (most importantly) a second-round draft pick they could use to keep building up their stockpile of assets.
McCollum is described as unlikely to stay with his new team long-term, and it makes the deal seem more like a salary dump for the Wizards, who are now free from paying Bradley Beal and Jordan Poole. With McCollum off the books in 2026, they are set to be one of the highest cap-space teams in the NBA next summer.
The real impact of this trade will be determined with Jordan Poole. If he can become the player he was on track to be, it could put the Pels in a place to contend in the West. At the very least, if he can play up to his role on the team, it will help break the narrative that’s followed him since his departure from the Warriors.
