NBA Trade Rumors: CJ McCollum 'Not Untouchable' in Talks; Pelicans PG Seen as Leader
May 10, 2024
Faced with the possibility of going into the luxury tax next season, the New Orleans Pelicans could going into the offseason trying to cut payroll with several trade candidates on their roster.
Michael Scotto said on the latest episode of the HoopsHype podcast that CJ McCollum is "not untouchable" in trade talks, but he's considered a "grown-up in the room for a young Pelicans squad, providing stability on the court and a good locker room presence for the team."
The Pelicans currently have $167.4 million in salary on their books for next season. That total doesn't include cap holds that bring their total up to $199.7 million, which is nearly $10 million over the projected second tax apron.
Jonas Valančiūnas, who has a $23.2 million cap hold, is the biggest question mark for the Pelicans among their potential free agents.
ESPN's Bobby Marks noted the Pelicans have never paid the luxury tax in franchise history, and the front office's decision regarding Valančiūnas and Naji Marshall, who is also a free agent, will determine if the club has the full nontaxpayer mid-level exception of $12.9 million or the taxpayer mid-level of $5.1 million available.
Of the potential trade candidates for the Pelicans, Brandon Ingram has been the most-talked about thus far. The 26-year-old will be playing on a $36 million expiring contract next season, but his deal includes a 15 percent trade kicker that could complicate any potential deal.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst has cited the Philadelphia 76ers as a potential landing spot for Ingram this summer. Scotto noted rival executives consider him to be the "most likely" Pelicans player to be moved because the fit on the court "isn't ideal" with Zion Williamson.
Next season will mark the first year of McCollum's two-year, $64 million deal he signed in September 2022. The contract has descending salaries of $33.3 million in 2024-25 and $30.7 million in 2025-26 that could make it easier to trade.
The Pelicans have invested a lot of money in this core that hasn't produced great results. They have made the playoffs in two of the past three years, but lost in the first round both times. They were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder this year with Williamson unavailable due to a hamstring injury he suffered in the play-in tournament loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
New Orleans did win 49 games this season, tied for the second-most in franchise history. McCollum finished second on the team with 20.0 points per game and shot a career-high 42.9 percent from three-point range in 66 starts.