Pelicans Acquire $211 Million Star and Top-3 Pick in Major NBA Draft Trade
The New Orleans Pelicans make a blockbuster move by acquiring a nine-time All-Star in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Both the 76ers and Pelicans had disappointing seasons in 2024, following an offseason that was filled with optimism. The 76ers signed nine-time All-Star Paul George to a four-year, max-salary deal worth nearly $212 million, pairing him with Joel Embiid and creating a “Big Three” alongside Tyrese Maxey.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans, coming off a playoff appearance in 2024, hoped to stay healthy with new addition Dejounte Murray joining Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum. However, injuries derailed their 2024-2025 campaign, preventing them from reaching the Play-In Tournament.
Both teams fell short of the postseason, finishing near the bottom of their conferences, which raises questions about their strategy with valuable draft picks. In this proposed deal, the 76ers gain a defensive specialist and a seasoned scorer, while the Pelicans land a nine-time All-Star and a top-three draft selection.
Pelicans receive: Paul George, 2025 1st-round pick (3rd overall)
76ers receive: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, 2025 1st-round pick (7th overall)
In this trade, the Pelicans would part with one of the NBA’s best wing defenders, Herb Jones, and a reliable 20-point scorer in CJ McCollum. However, they would secure a top-three pick in a draft where prospects like Ace Bailey or V.J. Edgecombe are expected to be available.
For the 76ers, the trade would surround a potentially healthy Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey with an elite defender in Jones—who can also hit threes—and a versatile combo-guard in McCollum, who can either start or lead their second unit.
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