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Relationships are usually the foundation for doing business in the NBA.
Wizards executives Michael Winger and Will Dawkins and Pelicans executive Troy Weaver have all known each other since their time together with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The trio also recently worked together in Washington before Weaver left for New Orleans and came together on a mutually beneficial trade for both teams.
The Wizards will trade Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, and the No. 40 pick in the draft to the Pelicans for CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, and a future second-round pick, league sources told HoopsHype. ESPN was the first outlet to report the full trade details.
As part of the trade, the Wizards sent out $40 million in salary for the 2026-27 season without taking any back in return. Now, Washington projects to have nearly $100 million in 2026 salary cap space, giving the franchise flexibility for further contract absorption deals while not ruling out free agency spending in 2026.
In the meantime, McCollum is considered a good locker room leader and has an expiring $30.67 million contract, which could be traded ahead of the February trade deadline. The 33-year-old guard has averaged 20 or more points in 10 straight seasons.
Olynyk is a stretch-five who shot a career-high 41.8 percent from downtown during the 2024-25 season. The 34-year-old center has an expiring $13.45 million contract.
Washington also frees up more possessions, shots, decision-making, and on-ball opportunities for the young core of Bilal Coulibaly, Bub Carrington, Keyshawn George, and their incoming first-round draft pick.
Without Poole, who generated most of Washington’s offense, the Wizards will shift to a more egalitarian style of play where the ball is shared with dispersed usage.
For New Orleans, Poole will replace McCollum’s offense, coming off a career-best 37.8 percent from downtown, and fits better with the team’s young core at 26 years old.
Bey, who recently turned 26, missed last season with a torn left ACL and has averaged 14.1 points in four seasons combined 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 next two seasons.
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