Basketball

Pelicans go all-in on core players with CJ McCollum extension


The New Orleans Pelicans turned their season around last year after trading for C.J. McCollum, leapfrogging the Lakers for ninth place in the West, defeating the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers in the play-in, and taking the top-seeded Phoenix Suns to six games in the first round. He was already signed through the 2023-24, but the Pelicans chose the certainty of the McCollum over the potential of cap space in 2024, by inking the guard to a two-year extension through 2026.

Originally, the Pelicans were looking at more than $50 million coming off their books after the 2023-24, with the big-money contracts for McCollum and center Jonas Valanciunas expiring. There are intriguing free agents that year — Jaylen Brown of the Celtics, the Hawks’ Dejounte Murray and the Raptors’ Pascal Siakam will all be unrestricted free agents — but the Pelicans are effectively opting out of making a big signing that summer.

It’s a reasonable decision. With Zion Williamson reportedly in “fantastic shape,” the Pelicans may believe that adding their franchise player to McCollum and Brandon Ingram is enough to make them a dangerous playoff team. They have plenty of draft capital if they want to trade for a veteran — extra first-round picks in 2023 and 2025, plus pick swap options with the Bucks and Lakers. Last year, the Pels had a stellar group of rookie contributors, with Herb Jones, Jose Alvarado and Trey Murphy III all playing big minutes in the playoffs. 2020 lottery pick Kira Lewis should return from his ACL tear by midseason, and 2019 lottery pick Jaxson Hayes is still only 22 years old.

With so many young players in the fold — Ingram just turned 25 — New Orleans needs some actual grown-ups on the roster, and McCollum is a very useful one. He’ll still be only 34 years old at the end of the extension, and his best skill is shooting (career 39.4% from three-point range). Not only is shooting relatively unaffected by age, it means McCollum should be able to seamlessly transition to a supporting role. If Williamson is healthy, there definitely will be open threes available.

Management has also sent a message. They’re not focusing on future potential. The time for the Pelicans to win is now.





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