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CJ McCollum Responds to Pelicans Player's Farewell Message After Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rex Villas | Last updated Jun 25, 2025 9:11 AM ET

After three-plus seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, veteran shooting guard CJ McCollum is moving on from the Big Easy.

The former mid-major star was involved in a four-player trade on Tuesday that sent McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick to the Washington Wizards. In return, the Pellies got Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 pick in the 2025 NBA draft this Wednesday.

McCollum, 33, still has a year left on his current contract, one that will pay him $30.66 million in the 2024-26 NBA season.

Like McCollum, the 34-year-old Olynyk is also entering a contract year, with $13.4 million remaining in his deal.

Acquiring Poole and Bey, who are both 26 years old, injects youth to the Pelicans, but perhaps more importantly, creates a bigger financial leg room for New Orleans. After the trade, the Pelicans are under the tax threshold by $12.59 million, per Spotrac.

However, trades in the NBA don't just impact numbers on paper. There's also the human aspect of it.

After playing multiple seasons together in the Pelicans' backcourt, McCollum and Jose Alvarado are now on different teams. Alvarado sent a heartfelt message for McCollum following the trade, saying, "My brother appreciate everything...taught me a lot."

McCollum reshared Alvarado's post with a message for his now former teammate. "My brother," McCollum captioned the post along with a handshake emoji.

Acquired by the Pelicans via a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2022, McCollum averaged 21.1 points, 5.0 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 787 games for New Orleans.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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