New Orleans Pelicans-Washington Wizards Pull Off Blockbuster Trade On Eve Of 2025 NBA Draft
The New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards agreed to a big trade on Tuesday afternoon. New Orleans dealt CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, and a future second-round pick to the Washington Wizards for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, and the No. 40 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
McCollum had a successful regular season when he was healthy enough to take the floor. He averaged 21.1 points per game on 44.4% shooting from the field. Olynyk spent this regular season with the Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans. He was a solid contributor to a New Orleans team that was not very good.
Poole has put up good stats over the last two seasons in D.C. even though it has not translated to on-court success. Bey is a gifted scorer who has shown flashes of the player he can be. He will look to unlock his full potential in New Orleans. How will this deal work out for both sides?
Where the New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards Go From Here?
The New Orleans Pelicans are trading CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick to the Washington Wizards for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2025
McCollum will join a Wizards squad that is rebuilding. He will presumably get to play alongside veteran Khris Middleton and young Center Alex Sarr. Washington will look like a far different team than they did this past season. Hopefully for them that will lead to wins on the court. McCollum is on an expiring contract. This move will give the squad about $100 million in cap space heading into next offseason.
New Orleans will look to pair young star Zion Williamson with Poole and Bey. Williamson is one of the most dynamic players in the league, but his health and conditioning have come under fire during his NBA career. The Pelicans hope a new co-star will help unlock the former No. 1 overall pick’s full potential.
Final Thoughts
While this move does not move the needle for either the New Orleans Pelicans or Washington Wizards, it will give the veterans involved a chance to reset. This is a a far better deal for the Pelicans though. They now have one of the league’s most formidable trios with Williamson, Bey, and Poole in the fold.
