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Wizards pull off move to open up significant salary-cap space

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 4:42 PM ET

The Washington Wizards made a major trade Tuesday that could pay dividends for them next year.

The Wizards are trading guard Jordan Poole, forward Saddiq Bey, and the No. 40 overall pick in the NBA Draft to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for guard CJ McCollum, forward Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick.

The New Orleans Pelicans are trading CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick to the Washington Wizards for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2025

McCollum has one year remaining on his contract, while Poole has two years left on the four-year, $128 million deal he originally signed with the Golden State Warriors. His trade value improved after he averaged 20.5 points per game last season, which allowed the Wizards to turn him into cap space.

Because of the trade, the Wizards will go into next offseason with roughly $100 million in salary cap space. It is unclear who they might seek to use that space on. Kevin Durant would hypothetically be a free agent, but the Houston Rockets will presumably try to re-sign him, and he has not shown much interest in playing in his hometown in the past.

The Wizards went just 18-64 last season and hold the No. 6 pick in the NBA Draft. They appear to finally be commencing on a major rebuild, and next summer will be a key point in determining whether that rebuild is on track.

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

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