Pelicans spend big on Zion Williamson core with Wizards trade

New Orleans traded guard CJ McCollum and center Kelly Olynyk to the Washington Wizards for guard Jordan Poole and forward Saddiq Bey, with second-round picks changing hands on each side. With the deal, the Pelicans took on $66M owed to Poole for the next two seasons and Bey's two years and $12.6M in exchange for two veterans on expiring contracts.

Washington's motivation for the deal was clear: Getting salary relief for 2026-27, when the team might be ready to start competing with its roster featuring four first-round selections from 2024 and five players 21 years old and younger, as well as whoever they take with the No. 6 pick on Wednesday.

For New Orleans, it's a sign that it wants to reload its own roster around two-time All-Star Zion Williamson, along with All-Defensive forward Herbert Jones and sharpshooter Trey Murphy III. Despite landing in the lottery after an injury-plagued season that saw Dejounte Murray tear his Achilles tendon, Williamson miss 52 games and Jones miss 62, New Orleans is sticking with this core, especially when it comes to offense. 

Poole averaged 20.5 points last season, along with 4.5 assists, shooting 37.8% on over nine three-point attempts per game. Bey missed all of the 2024-25 season with a torn ACL, but he's expected to be healthy by opening night. He's been a positive offensive player his whole career, if an inconsistent shooter.

They're also both on the same timeline as the other Pelicans. Poole and Bey are 26, while Murphy and Williamson with be 26 next season and Jones is 27. That's a big contrast to McCollum and Olynyk, both of whom will be 34 next season.

By taking on big money for the next two seasons, Graham is giving himself two years to see what this team can do, especially when Murray returns, either late this season or in 2026-27. They were a 49-win team in 2023-24, which was a top-10 record in the NBA. By comparison, this year's Indiana Pacers were 50-32, a top-nine record.

That's not to say Poole and Bey are going to lead the Pelicans to the NBA Finals. New Orleans would probably instead settle for winning its first playoff series in eight years.