The Pelicans started 1-12, played the entire season without Zion Williamson, and looked like they were headed for the lottery for a fourth straight season.
Then they traded for CJ McCollum.
On Wednesday, McCollum nearly put up a triple-double, and with help from Brandon Ingram’s 37-point outburst, the Pels tied their series with the 1-seed Suns.
Now, with Phoenix star Devin Booker potentially out (hamstring), NOLA could make a run — and the McCollum trade is looking like this season’s most undervalued move.
- In 26 regular-season games with the Pelicans, McCollum averaged career highs in PPG (24.3), RPG (4.5), APG (5.8), SPG (1.3), and FG% (49.3).
- Since February’s trade, NOLA is eighth in offensive rating (117.2). Before, it was fifth-worst (108.0).
- Including the play-ins and postseason, the Pelicans are 12-7 when both Ingram and McCollum play together.
- They traded Josh Hart, Tomas Satoransky, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Didi Louzada, their 2022 first-rounder (protected), and two future second-rounders.
McCollum is making $30.9 million this campaign and signed through 2024 — he’ll make a total of $69.1 million over the next two years.
The Pels should also have Zion back next season — which would immediately form a lethal Big Three with Zion, Ingram, and CJ.
With their core locked in and a lottery pick from the Lakers, the Pelicans are set up nicely for the future — no matter what happens in the first round.
