Wizards acquire McCollum in trade with Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards have agreed to a four-player trade that would send guard CJ McCollum to Washington, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday.

Trades cannot be finalised until the start of the league year on July 6.

The Wizards are acquiring McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 overall selection in this year’s draft.

The trade agreement comes a day before the first round of the NBA Draft, in which Washington holds the No. 6 pick and New Orleans the No. 7 pick.

The deal represents a swap of players who had disappointing stints in their previous homes.

Washington traded for and extended Poole in 2022 after he helped the Golden State Warriors win another NBA championship, but he never blossomed into the primary offensive engine the Wizards had hoped for.

McCollum was acquired by the Pelicans midway through the 2021-22 season, forming a trio with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. The combination led to middling results, and Ingram has since been traded to the Toronto Raptors.

McCollum has one year and $30.7million left on his deal. Poole’s contract has two seasons remaining, worth a total of $65.9million.