3 reasons why the CJ McCollum trade is amazing for the Pelicans

3 reasons why the CJ McCollum trade is amazing for the Pelicans: Larry Nance Jr.

CJ McCollum is the star of this trade. The deal will almost certainly be advertised as the New Orleans Pelicans getting McCollum and the Portland Trail Blazers getting Josh Hart and picks.

However, McCollum isn’t the only piece people should be talking about in this trade. Larry Nance Jr. is also headed to New Orleans in this trade, which is a massive win for the Pelicans.

Nance Jr. is a versatile big man that the Pelicans can use in a variety of different ways. He’s not having an amazing season this year, but he’s also playing only 23.2 minutes a night.

During his three full years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Nance was great in his role. In his final year there (2020-21), he averaged 9.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.7 steals while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 36.0 percent from deep in 31.2 minutes.

If New Orleans puts him in the best position to succeed, he could be a huge part of their team. And the best part about it is, he’s a useful player to have on the defensive end.

Trading Josh Hart away definitely hurts the Pelicans’ on defense, and McCollum certainly won’t help in that regard. But Nance will.

Herbert Jones will undoubtedly be New Orlean’s primary defender, but they could roll out a funky, lanky lineup of McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Jones, Nance, and Jonas Valanciunas.

New Orleans’ defense certainly won’t be one of the best in the league, but the addition of Nance in this deal also helps ensure that they won’t be one of the worst, either.