Jordan Poole to New orleans

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the New Orleans Pelicans are finalizing a trade that will send CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, and a future second-round draft pick to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, and the 40th overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft.

This deal signals a shift in direction for both teams. The Wizards are moving on from Poole and bringing in veteran guard McCollum, whose contract is set to expire, potentially positioning Washington to have close to $100 million in projected cap space by 2026. On the other hand, the Pelicans are opting for a younger core with the addition of Poole and Bey.

In terms of draft assets, New Orleans still retains the No. 7 and No. 23 picks in Wednesday’s draft, while Washington adds the No. 40 pick to its existing first-round selections at No. 6 and No. 18.

Statistically, McCollum posted 21.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists across 56 games last season for New Orleans. Olynyk contributed 10.7 points and 5.9 rebounds in 20 appearances. Poole led the Wizards in scoring last season with averages of 20.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals over 68 starts.