By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After being linked to multiple teams, CJ McCollum will be traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. The deal with the Portland Trail Blazers is being finalized, as reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The Blazers will receive Czech international guard Tomas Satoransky along with Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Didi Louzada, a protected 2022 first-round draft pick and two future second-round selections. Tony Snell and Larry Nance are set to accompany McCollum to New Orleans, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
McCollum, 30, was previously linked to the Pelicans. Multiple more teams were rumored to have an interest in trading for the Lehigh product ahead of Thursday’s Trade Deadline.
In 2013, he was selected with the tenth overall pick of the draft by the Blazers. The Ohio-born shooting guard since recorded 621 NBA appearances playing alongside Damian Lillard through the entire run. He had 20.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per contest over 36 games played as a member of the starting five this season.
The NBPA president has three years left on his current contract stretching to the end of the 2023-24 season.
Satoransky, 30, has produced 2.8 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.0 rebounds going through his sixth NBA season, on an expiring contract. He was traded from the Chicago Bulls to the Pelicans in August after a couple of seasons at Windy City. The Washington Wizards selected him with the 32nd overall pick of the 2012 draft.
The two teams involved in the deal are currently separated by just half a game in the Western Conference standings. The Pelicans sit tenth at 21-32, the low-point of the Play-In zone, while the Blazers follow 11th at 21-33.
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