Wizards Trade for the 2016 NBA’s Most Improved Player
It was just reported by Shams Charania that the Washington Wizards have traded Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, and a second-round pick. For Washington, they shift away from Poole, who they thought would be a future cornerstone to the Wizards franchise, while absorbing McCollum’s veteran contract. As for New Orleans, they get younger and perhaps more dynamic with the additions of Poole and Bey. The Washington Wizards now have a projected 100 million dollars in cap space heading into 2026. This has been the second trade in over 24 hours, as the Trail Blazers acquired Jrue Holiday from the Boston Celtics.
The 2016 NBA’s Most Improved Player, McCollum, played in 56 games this past season, averaging about 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, and a steal. For Olynyk, he averaged nine points, five rebounds, three assists, and a steal in 44 games played. For Poole, he played in 68 games with the Wizards last season, averaging 20 points, three rebounds, four assists, and a steal. Bey signed a four-year deal with the Wizards last offseason after tearing his ACL during the 2023-2024 NBA season. He did not play a single game in Washington this past season because of the gruesome injury. Both Washington and New Orleans missed the playoffs this past season. The Wizards finished last in the Eastern Conference after winning just 18 games, while the Pelicans finished 14th in the Western Conference, ahead of the last-place Utah Jazz by four games with a 21-61 record.
This trade is extremely interesting for both teams. New Orleans looks to get younger and make a defining playoff push after years of disappointment and drama. Poole and Bey are looking to prove all their doubters wrong. For Washington, the veteran in McCollum certainly will help their young players, especially whoever the Wizards pick with the sixth overall pick. Yet, McCollum and Olynk are most likely not part of the Wizards’ future plans after this upcoming season. The big question for both teams for next season is: can they avoid missing the playoffs once again? With the amount of young talent the Wizards have, it’s probably assumed that they won’t be a playoff team next season. However, for New Orleans, they have teetered and tottered back and forth from being a playoff team to looking outside the playoffs. Does Poole and Bey change that dynamic??
