Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports activities
Relationships are normally the muse for doing enterprise within the NBA.
Wizards executives Michael Winger and Will Dawkins and Pelicans govt Troy Weaver have all identified one another since their time along with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. The trio additionally not too long ago labored collectively in Washington earlier than Weaver left for New Orleans and got here collectively on a mutually useful commerce for each groups.
The Wizards will commerce Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, and the No. 40 decide within the draft to the Pelicans for CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, and a future second-round decide, league sources instructed HoopsHype. ESPN was the primary outlet to report the total commerce particulars.
As a part of the commerce, the Wizards despatched out $40 million in wage for the 2026-27 season with out taking any again in return. Now, Washington initiatives to have almost $100 million in 2026 wage cap area, giving the franchise flexibility for additional contract absorption offers whereas not ruling out free company spending in 2026.
Within the meantime, McCollum is taken into account a very good locker room chief and has an expiring $30.67 million contract, which might be traded forward of the February commerce deadline. The 33-year-old guard has averaged 20 or extra factors in 10 straight seasons.
Olynyk is a stretch-five who shot a career-high 41.8 p.c from downtown throughout the 2024-25 season. The 34-year-old middle has an expiring $13.45 million contract.
Washington additionally frees up extra possessions, photographs, decision-making, and on-ball alternatives for the younger core of Bilal Coulibaly, Bub Carrington, Keyshawn George, and their incoming first-round draft decide.
With out Poole, who generated most of Washington’s offense, the Wizards will shift to a extra egalitarian fashion of play the place the ball is shared with dispersed utilization.
For New Orleans, Poole will exchange McCollum’s offense, coming off a career-best 37.8 p.c from downtown, and suits higher with the staff’s younger core at 26 years outdated.
Bey, who not too long ago turned 26, missed final season with a torn left ACL and has averaged 14.1 factors in 4 seasons mixed with the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks.
Poole is on the books for $65.89 million, and Bey is owed $12.56 million over the following two seasons.
You possibly can observe Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) on X, previously often called Twitter, and Blue Sky (@MikeAScotto).
