It was a rare win for the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. The win was just their sixth on the season. Usually when a team is struggling as much as the injury-ravaged Pelicans, there are a lot of rumors involving some of their players being dealt away. One player that New Orleans could trade is guard CJ McCollum.
The 33-year-old McCollum put on a show Friday, further showcasing his talents for prospective trade suitors.
Pelicans Veteran Guard Shows Out For Prospective Trade Suitors
McCollum Drops 50 Points On The Wizards
In a matchup between the teams with the two worst records in the NBA, New Orleans defeated the Washington Wizards by the score of 132-120. Grabbing their sixth victory, the Pelicans equaled the Wizards win total on the season (Washington has three less losses). It ended an 11-game losing streak for the Pelicans and secured them their first win since December 5.
McCollum certainly went off in the Pelicans win. He dropped 50 points while shooting an impressive 18-27 from the field, 10-16 from beyond the arc, and 4-4 from the free-throw line. With the game all squared up entering the fourth quarter, the 6-foot-3 guard dropped 16 in the final stanza to help the Pelicans pull away.
Now in his 12th season, McCollum tied his career-high single-game scoring effort on Friday. On January 31, 2018, while playing with the Portland Trail Blazers, McCollum also had a 50-point outing against the Chicago Bulls.
Much like basically every rotation piece on the Pelicans, McCollum missed time earlier with injury. He missed 13 games from October 30 until November 22 with a right adductor strain. New Orleans went 2-11 during his time on the shelf.
In his 22 outings this seaaon, McCollum has posted averages of 22.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.0 steals. He has shot 45.9% from the field, 36.8% from three-point range, and 71.4% from the charity stripe.
Could He Become A Key Piece At This Year’s Trade Deadline?
On Friday, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints posted his ‘Siegel’s Scoop’ where he went over many of the trade rumors going around including those involving the Pelicans. When he brought up McCollum’s name, Siegel wrote,
“Although there is no urgency to move McCollum since he has one year left on his contract, the Pelicans have expressed a level of openness with teams around the league to discuss McCollum’s future, sources said.”
Prior to the 2022-23 season tipping off, New Orleans agreed on a two-year, $64 million extension with McCollum. He is signed through next season and will make $30.66 million in 2025-26 before becoming an unrestricted free agent. If a team were to give the Pelicans a strong offer for McCollum, he likely can be had.
The 2015-16 Most Improved Player is in the midst of his 10th straight season averaging at least 20 points. He has been one of the better scorers in league history that has never been named to an All-Star Game. With the Pelicans record the way it is, it’s safe to say McCollum won’t receive his first nod this season.
While it remains to be seen if someone will deal for McCollum, he will look to build off his career-tying best outing. The Pelicans will once again play the Wizards on Sunday.
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