Pelicans acquire CJ McCollum in trade with Portland Trail Blazers

The CJ McCollum era with the Portland Trail Blazers is finally over.

The Blazers have reached a deal to trade the veteran guard to the New Orleans Pelicans for Josh Hart, Tomas Satoransky, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Didi Louzada, a 2022 protected first-round pick and two second-round picks, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports.

The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the deal until is announced by both teams.

The Pelicans will also receive Larry Nance and Tony Snell in the trade.

McCollum, drafted 10th in the 2013 draft out of Lehigh, spent his entire career with the Blazers and teamed up with Damian Lillard to form one of the best backcourts in the NBA. The Blazers have made the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons, reaching the Western Conference finals 2019. But the past few seasons there has been plenty of talk about breaking up that combination, and it finally happened.

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Here are the grades on the trade for both teams:

New Orleans: B+

So much of this deal depends on Zion Williamson’s health, and even if Williamson isn’t healthy acquiring a player who has averaged at least 20 points the past seven seasons is valuable. But let’s figure Williamson, who has not played this season, is healthy to play at some point. That gives the Pelicans a starting lineup of Devonte’ Graham, McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas with talented and surprising rookie Herbert Jones, a great second-round pick, in the rotation.

The Pelicans have moved into 10th place, which would put them in play-in game contention. Looking ahead to next season and a healthy roster, the Pelicans could be a team that is in the top-six in the West, especially if they add more depth. McCollum comes with a price tag ($33.3 million in 2022-23 and $35.8 million in 2023-24). The Pelicans are planning on it being worth the investment.

Portland: B-

Trading McCollum wasn’t easy. He is friends with Blazers star Damian Lillard, and they have helped the Blazers to a modicum of success – just enough success with five first-round playoff losses in the past eight seasons. Before president of basketball operations Neil Olshey was fired, he tried to remake the roster this season to accommodate Lillard’s wish to play for a contender. Even before Lillard sustained an abdominal injury and had surgery on Jan. 13, the Blazers lagged behind the contenders in the standings.

Blazers interim general manager Joe Cronin just made his second trade – following a deal that sent Normal Powell and Robert Covington to the Los Angeles Clippers last week. Cronin is trying to gather enough assets and flexibility to make the Blazers better through trades, draft picks, a $20 million trade exception and salary cap space.

This is one of those deals where the grade could change (for better or worse) depending on what Portland does in the future.

Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CJ McCollum traded from Portland Trail Blazers to New Orleans Pelicans