SEPTEMBER 26: McCollum’s extension is now official, according to Pelicans head of basketball operations David Griffin, who praised the veteran guard for “taking less money in his extension to keep this group together” (Twitter links via Andrew Lopez of ESPN and Christian Clark of NOLA.com).
SEPTEMBER 24: The Pelicans and CJ McCollum have reached an agreement on a two-year extension valued at $64MM, writes Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. This deal, which was confirmed by McCollum’s agent, Sam Goldfeder of Excel Basketball, will run through the end of the 2025/26 season.
McCollum made an immediate impact in New Orleans after being acquired from the Trail Blazers in February. He averaged 24.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game as the Pelicans stormed back from a slow start and earned a spot in the play-in tournament. He was equally effective in the playoffs as New Orleans took the top-seeded Suns to six games in their first-round matchup.
The 31-year-old shooting guard is part of what looks to be a strong foundation that could keep the Pelicans in playoff contention for the next few years. Brandon Ingram provides another consistent scoring threat, and the return of Zion Williamson could round out one of the league’s most dangerous offenses.
All three players are now under contract for the next three seasons, notes Christian Clark of NOLA.com (Twitter link).
The extension was a priority for Pelicans senior vice president of basketball operations David Griffin and general manager Trajan Langdon, Wojnarowski adds. They were impressed by the way McCollum was able to transform the team with his production and leadership after the trade.
McCollum was a fixture in Portland after being selected with the 10th pick in the 2013 draft. He spent eight and a half seasons with the Blazers and ranks fifth on the team’s career scoring list.
McCollum will earn $33.3MM this season and $35.8MM in 2023/24 before the new extension takes effect.
Overpaid. In a stacked west they’re just wasting money on a 2nd tier player
They are better than title contender Lakers
If you are better than title contenders, you spend because of …..,.
Good overpaid extension
In other words overpay is good sometimes
Overpaying to get a player when you are a middle of the road or less team, I get. This is not a “good overpay” He is 31 years old now!
Why do you always talk about the lakers then put them down? I’m not a lakers fan
He’s closer to tier 1.5, he just always had to play second fiddle to Lillard.
Now he’s 2nd fiddle to Zion : – )
3rd fiddle to Zion and Ingram
.
When you always play second fiddle perhaps it says something about your abilities. CJ is a great nba player I’m not saying otherwise, just he doesn’t move the needle to the point the Pelicans are title contenders, that’s why they are wasting money
How many second tier guys do this.
He averaged 24.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists
You hit the mark lol. He’s absolutely a closer. And everyone needs that. Best pickup NO has made in Years …… including Ingram n Zion
Zion is overpaid, McCollum earned his, McCollum was the difference last season in N.O., Zion was in the bleachers.
If Zion fits well, the Pelicans could very well win a title, if he doesn’t, the Pelicans could very well still win a title picking up a couple players and some picks in a trade but without McCollum the Pels have no shot.
No chance the pelicans win a title this year. Zion sure he can go beast mode but you expect Ingram and cj to be able to step up with the warriors/bucks/nets/76ers/cavs/Celtics/heat? Those are the only teams I think have a chance this year. Maybe the clippers if they can actually stay healthy but that’s a big if
Forgot suns, and mavs
It’s a 2 year deal. Relax.
Haha hey they are wasting 60 million but that’s chump change because it’s only 2 years. Worst take ever
Thanks for adding so much to the conversation
So can his agent demand a trade this season or does he have to wait until next off-season, I forget how these small market team extensions work.
CJM is a terrific player, and there’s nothing wrong with these salary numbers. But his contract had 2 more years to run, and he’s 31 now. For those reasons, I find it odd that it would be a priority for the FO to get this done now (vs next offseason).
They are showing their priorities and respect. Nothing wrong with that. CJ is a gamer
This is the WORST stupid extension. CJ is a great dude, but there is absolutely no chance of losing him in free agency. Could have let him played out his contract, and earn the next contract. Now, he will be complacent, less motivated, and injury is coming soon. Yes, he’s a great vet influence on the team and this extension will assure he will be a positive supporter of coach and gm, but gimme a break – $64m???? Extension should have been no more than $30m for 2 yrs. CJ is now officially untradable asset. :(
Wrong,positive move by the pelicans as they lock up their team leader and set the tone for the franchise. Mac showed his leadership as he elevated his play and his teammates. Sorry friend, terrible assessment by you.
WHY do you have to lock him up for?? No one else will offer him $64m for 2 yrs…
I believe in the message. Its about stability in the franchise. In my opinion. I just don’t believe Zion will stay healthy.
Stability is a valid reason but $64m is rediculous.
@ Latino
Apparently Griffin and Langdon disagree. Obviously he was very productive last season, despite underperforming somewhat in the playoffs. They obviously felt that he is worth keeping.
Players get overpaid all the time (see Christian Kirk in the NFL). Curious what do you think the Pelicans ceiling is this coming season? Let’s pretend no injuries to any teams (I know that’s never going to happen but I’m making a point). Healthy all around the nba where do the Pelicans land in the playoffs? In no order Suns, Grizzlies, Warriors, Clippers, Mavs, Nuggets, and maybe the twolves and lakers are all better then the Pelicans right now. So that’s 8 teams ahead of them, they are playing for a playin spot then to go against a top seed. That is why I said it’s wasting money
See the Kris Bryant deal with the Rockies and it’s the exact same, a non top tier team just throwing money around for no reason
Wrt “He was equally effective in the playoffs as New Orleans took the top-seeded Suns to six games in their first-round matchup”, that’s not exactly correct.
His scoring dropped from 24.3 to 22.2 ppg on 39%/33% shooting (quite a bit down from the reg season 49%/39%) , his apg dropped from 5.8 to 4.8, and spg from 1.3 to 0.7 – despite avging 6.2 more min/gm.
Obviously the Suns’ defense was very good, but facts matter.
C.J. McCollum deserve the bag. He’s always been extremely solid. He can be your third best player on a championship caliber team. That’s what they would want and get from him. The face of the franchise is Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram is their second guy and their closer. If healthy this is a very dangerous team. Zion Williamson has the talent to be a top 5 to top 10 player in the NBA year in year out.
You say dangerous team so look at my post above and answer where do you think the pelicans land in the playoffs? I just don’t see anyway for them to land in the top 8 (well injuries happen that’s the only way)
To each his own. But extending this 2 years was unnecessary. He has 2 seasons already, this one and the next one. Not that his play doesn’t deserve it but it’s a very Kevin Lovesque extension. If he was a FA this summer I find it hard to believe he gets 4/132 at 31 years old with his injury history.
But kudos to the Pels for locking everything down
Zion 6 years
CJ 4 years
Dyson Daniels 4 years
BI 3 years
TM3, Herb, Alvarado 3 years
Jo Val 2 years
That’s a really good core locked up.
Great move, now they can trade Graham + Nance Jr + 1st round pick for Mike Conley
Conley, McCollum, BI, Zion and JV. With all their young players that are presently inexpensive whose contracts come due just as the new media deal is in place.
La Lakers draft picks for next two years for the Pels , lottery picks possibilities. The Lakers stars will physically be challenged.
A Mike Con + CJ backcourt is just begging to be cooked.
Also the Jazz are just giving away non star type players for junk now. Why give up a first for MC, unless you see Nance and Graham as negative assets, which is fair.
Utah started the rebuild hot with the Rudy and a Spyda trades but they got nothing of value for Bev or Bogdan.
Overpaid? What kind of talk is that? Chris Paul got 4 for 100 mil and he’s 50 yrs old. Let the man get his money. Even with the extension He would still be 34-35 unless he suffers another collapsed lung, sorry couldn’t resist that.
The real question is whether or not Zion fits with Ingram, Jones, Val and McCollum, or whether the Pels need to trade Zion.
They could get Cam Reddish, Evan Fournier, Jokubaitis or Miles McBride and probably Obi Toppin or Julius Randle too, and a couple unprotected firsts for Zion.
That’s how bad the Knicks want Zion, and if I’m N.O. I’m making that trade before the season starts.
Initially I didn’t agree with the 32 million salary.
But….
He is a really nice player. Has shown to be a clutch shooter.
What else could they’ve done better with the money?
This tells me Jordan Poole is about to get paid next summer. And it won’t be by a contender, it’ll be a team in the eight to 12 range much like this scenario with the Pelicans.