CJ McCollum isn’t bothered by recent trade rumors

CJ McCollum isn’t bothered by recent trade rumors

Despite having plenty of talent, the New Orleans Pelicans have had an unfathomably bad 2024-25 season due to myriad injuries.

They are currently a West-worst 7-29 with the league’s second-worst NET Rating, getting outscored by 10 points per 100 possessions. With the trade deadline exactly one month from Monday, conversations are going to ramp up around the league–and the Pelicans could be a team looking to sell off pieces and look toward 2025-26.

One of those names is Pelicans guard CJ McCollum, who has just one more year ($30.7 million) left on beyond this season. This isn’t the first time he’s been in rumors, however, recently poking fun at The Ringer’s Bill Simmons and his obsession with the trade machine.

“I’ve been here, this is year 12 right? I’ve been in trade rumors since my third year in the league. After my third year, Bill Simmons had me getting traded every week somewhere,” he said. “So I understand what comes with that. For me, I play the game the right way. I do things the right way. I play hard. Obviously, this team values me and I’m sure there are some other teams that value me as well.

“I like the city. My wife likes the city. My kids are happy here. I came here for a reason. But at the same time, some things aren’t’ in your control. You just play the game and do what you do and hope for the best. I’m gonna do my job and I’m gonna prepare. My value is going to be exactly where it needs to be.”

"After my third year, Bill Simmons had me getting traded every week… This team values me and I'm sure other teams value me. I like the city. My wife likes the city. My kids are happy here… My value is going to be exactly where it needs to be"

— CJ McCollum on trade rumors pic.twitter.com/ari8QwZXjh

— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) January 4, 2025

Simmons is a self proclaimed “Picasso” of the trade machine, so this is an objectively hilarious comment. He took it in good spirits, too, tweeting out a Jimmy Butler four-team trade with the Pelicans Sunday and apologized to McCollum for not being in it.

Spent the weekend in my Trade Machine art studio working on a Jimmy Butler masterpiece. Sorry to CJ McCollum for not fitting him in.

NO also gets: Mem 2026 1st, Mia 2029 1st, Det 2029 pick swap (top-8 prot).

PS: You can sub Ingram for Zion and NO gets less from Miami. pic.twitter.com/AxTPDdxGyo

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) January 5, 2025

McCollum, 33, is playing some of the best basketball of his career. On Friday, he recorded a 50-point, 10-assist double-double in the first of two straight games against the lowly Washington Wizards. Over his last five games, he’s averaging 32.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists on 55.6 percent shooting and 51.9 percent from 3-point range.

Zion Williamson’s agency isn’t expected to pursue trade ahead of Feb. 6 deadline

Considering he is on a front-loaded contract with minimal years, it would not be surprising if he is on the move come Feb. 6. It could also clear room for New Orleans since they are likely to own a top-5 pick when they are also trying to move Brandon Ingram ahead of the deadline. His contract is more valuable as an expiring, but outside of Yves Missi, Trey Murphy and Herbert Jones, nobody’s safe.

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