The New Orleans Pelicans are set to trade seasoned guard CJ McCollum, center Kelly Olynyk, and a future second-round draft pick to the Washington Wizards in exchange for guard Jordan Poole, forward Saddiq Bey, and the 40th pick in the NBA Draft scheduled for Thursday. This information was provided by an unidentified source familiar with the situation, as the official announcement of the trade is yet to be made public.
The transfer marks McCollum’s third team switch since 2022. Known for averaging 19.6 points over his 12-year NBA career, McCollum established himself during his long tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers. On the other side, Poole will also be changing franchises for the third time. After four seasons with the Golden State Warriors and two with the Wizards, Poole boasts an average of 16.8 points per game throughout his six-year tenure in the league.
The Wizards appear to be committed to a youthful strategy, gaining substantial salary cap flexibility from this deal, which could climb to about $100 million by the summer of 2026. This financial leeway is mainly due to offloading $57 million in expiring contracts associated with McCollum and Olynyk in the upcoming season. Washington is anticipated to draft additional young talent with their two first-round picks in the upcoming draft, continuing their rebuild process initiated by the Bradley Beal trade.
The Pelicans are undergoing a transformation under the guidance of Joe Dumars, an ex-NBA champion as both a player and general manager with the Detroit Pistons. Dumars was appointed as the executive vice president of basketball operations this past April, taking over from David Griffin. Last week, he enhanced the Pelicans’ draft position by acquiring an additional first-round selection—23rd overall—alongside their seventh pick by trading a 2026 first-rounder to Indiana.
Canadian center Kelly Olynyk, who spent a short stint in New Orleans after being traded from Toronto in a move involving high-scoring wing Brandon Ingram, has averaged 10.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game during his 12-year NBA career. Bey, originally selected 19th overall from Villanova in 2020, has averaged 14.1 points per game from his time with the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks. Last season, he was with the Wizards but did not play due to recovering from knee surgery.
In the immediate future, the transaction has the potential to elevate the Wizards’ competitiveness, particularly in three-point shooting, an area where they struggled last season. Both McCollum and Olynyk are expected to contribute positively. Additionally, McCollum is recognized as both a leader in the locker room and a productive player, distinguished by his decade-long streak of averaging over 20 points per season—a feat only accomplished by LeBron James and DeMar DeRozan alongside him.