On February 9, Beijing time, Mingji Shams reported that sources revealed that the trailblazers and pelicans have reached an agreement. CJ McCollum will be traded to the Pelicans, while the Blazers are compensated by Hart, Walker, Satoransky and multiple draft picks. The deal is good for both sides, the Trail Blazers have decided to swing this season, so the team needs young players with potential, and the Pelicans have focused on impacting the playoffs this season, and the team is currently in 10th place in the West and has a good chance of playing in the playoffs. The Pelicans got players like CJ McCollum in this campaign, which greatly improved the overall strength of the team, and Ingram also ushered in a strong helper.
CJ McCollum was selected with the 10th pick in the first round of the 2013 Draft, and since entering the league, he has been playing for the Blazers, and after core players such as Aldridge left the team, he and Lillard formed a backcourt double core, becoming the core and leader of the team.
During his 9 years with the Trail Blazers, CJ McCollum worked hard to help the team, and with the help of him and Lillard, the Blazers went to the playoffs for 8 consecutive seasons, although most of the time, the team suffered a first round trip, but in the 18-19 season, they successfully reached the Western Conference Finals, and the team as a whole performed well.
Unfortunately, the Trail Blazers' record this season has been very bad, Lillard has been in poor shape since the start of the game, and CJ McCollum has also been affected by injuries, did not play the level of record should be, and missed many games. So far in the new season, CJ McCollum has played in 36 games for the Trail Blazers, averaging 20.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, averaging a new low in his last six seasons, shooting efficiency is not ideal, and his help to the team is limited.
The Trail Blazers have also performed badly this season, with a record of only 21 wins and 33 losses in the new season, ranking 11th in the West, and Lillard's long-term injury has also led to a decline in the team's competitiveness, and they have difficulty competing with other teams this season. The current Blazers focus on training young players, there is no high demand for the record, and when CJ McCollum still has a certain deal value, it is good for the Blazers to help the team quickly complete the rebuild.
Although it was very difficult for CJ McCollum to say goodbye to the Trail Blazers, after all, he played for the city and the team for 9 years. But the team's current direction has changed, and he also has to look forward, and after coming to the Pelicans, this is a better development for CJ McCollum. The Pelicans are currently in 10th place in the West after a poor start to the season, and the team is on an upward trend. The addition of CJ McCollum has undoubtedly greatly improved the competitiveness of the team, and Ingram has also received a very powerful helper. After completing the deal, it is believed that the Pelicans will fly higher, they have a chance to hit the playoffs this season, and other teams will not be so easy to win against the current Pelicans.