The New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards just made a major backcourt shake-up — and the ripple effects could shape both teams’ futures.

The Pelicans are trading CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, and a future second-round pick to the Wizards for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, and the No. 40 pick in the 2025 draft, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

For the Wizards, this move is about flexibility and a fresh direction. They swap out the erratic but high-ceiling Poole for the veteran stability of McCollum, whose expiring contract now helps Washington approach $100 million in projected cap space for 2026 — giving them massive flexibility for a potential rebuild or free-agent splash.

Meanwhile, New Orleans gets younger, more dynamic, and potentially more explosive. While Poole’s inconsistency has been well-documented, he’s still just 25 and averaged 17.4 PPG this past season. Saddiq Bey brings spacing and defensive toughness on the wing — and with Trey Murphy III and Brandon Ingram’s futures uncertain, there could be real opportunity.

Both teams are clearly retooling: the Wizards for cap space, the Pelicans for upside. Let the new era begin.