In a surprising move on Tuesday, the New Orleans Pelicans traded their leading scorer from last season, CJ McCollum.
Trading McCollum is not surprising in itself, but the timing of the trade, along with the return, may have fans scratching their head.
At 33 years old, McCollum isn’t nearly the caliber of player he once was, but he still has plenty of value due to his elite three-point shooting and veteran leadership.
It’s also fitting that the President of the Players Association now finds himself in the capital city.
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Let’s break down the details of the trade and examine what it means for the Pelicans going forward.
McCollum Trade Details
Alongside McCollum, journeyman center Kelly Olynyk was also sent to the Wizards. The Pelicans also included a future second-round pick to sweeten the deal.
The return for the Pelicans is intriguing, to say the least. They received Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey, along with the 40th pick in this year’s draft, Micah Peavy.
A New Look For the Pelicans
One thing about Joe Dumars is that he isn’t afraid to make the big trade.
While trading away your locker room leader in McCollum isn’t ideal, the Pelicans are now a younger, more dynamic team.
Jordan Poole is a curious case and is one of the most polarizing players in the NBA. However, he has proven to be a valuable contributor to a championship team during his tenure with the Golden State Warriors.
Poole quietly had one of his most efficient seasons last year, averaging 20.5 points, 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game. What’s most intriguing is that he shot 38% from three-point range on 9.1 attempts per game.
https://twitter.com/HoHighlights/status/1889847521662702060
You can’t have enough shooters around Zion Williamson, and Poole provides that and then some. He’s a creative ball-handler and a skilled slasher who showcases a diverse arsenal of finishing moves around the rim. His defense remains a concern, but the hope is that defensive standout Herb Jones can help cover for his shortcomings on that end of the floor.
One name flying under the radar in this deal is Saddiq Bey.
Bey is a prototypical 3-and-D wing who’s proven to be a reliable shooter at the NBA level. He’s coming off a serious ACL injury, but he’s a valuable player when healthy.
Bey is a gritty, hard-nosed defender who embodies the tough, physical style of basketball that Dumars values.
And we can’t forget that Saddiq Bey has dropped 50+ points in a game.
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1504632085096681475
Say what you will about the deal, but with Zion and Poole leading the charge, the Pelicans are going to be fun to watch.
What Lies Ahead?
Dumars is not messing around and is taking a big risk with this trade. However, the Pelicans needed to switch things up, and they did just that.
They are getting younger while relieving themselves of McCollum’s hefty contract, which creates some financial flexibility for the future.
Yes, this trade can easily backfire for Joe Dumars and company, but there is a world in which Poole balls out and Bey returns to form.
Regardless of the early reactions, fans should respect the fact that the new front office is willing to do whatever it can to help the Pelicans return to the playoffs.
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