The Pelicans acquired guard C.J. McCollum from the Trail Blazers as part of a seven-player trade, according to reports Tuesday.
The Pelicans will also receive forwards Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell in the deal, while the Blazers get forward Josh Hart, and guards Tomas Staoransky, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Didi Louzada, as well as draft compensation in the form of a 2022 protected first round draft choice and two future second-rounders.
The trade marks the end of an era in Portland, where McCollum has been paired with Damian Lillard in the backcourt since 2013. The Blazers have reached the playoffs every season since they drafted McCollum. However, the Blazers struggled in the postseason, reaching the Western Conference finals only once while being eliminated in the first round five times.
The 30-year-old McCollum is averaging 20.5 points, 4.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds this season.
He gives the Pelicans a needed outside shooting threat at a time when they appear to be on the upswing under first-year coach Willie Green — despite playing this season so far without star forward Zion Williamson. After starting 1-12, the Pelicans (21-32) entered Tuesday’s games on the heels of a three-game road winning streak and occupying the final play-in spot in the Western Conference.
Entering Tuesday, the Blazers had lost five straight and were in 11th in the West.
The Pacers are trading two-time All-Star C Domantas Sabonis to the Kings for a package that includes G Tyrese Haliburton, ESPN reported. The Pacers are including Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday and a 2027 second-round pick in exchange for Haliburton, G Buddy Hield and C Tristan Thompson. Sabonis, 25, is averaging 18.9 points, 12.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists this season, while Haliburton, 21, has averaged 14.3 points, 7.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals. ... Wizards G Bradley Beal will have surgery on his left wrist and miss the rest of the regular season. The three-time All-Star averaged 23.2 points and a career-high 6.6 assists in 40 games before he was hurt in late last month.
NFL: Saints RB Alvin Kamara is accused of punching and badly injuring a man in an attack also involving at least three men who were with Kamara last weekend at a Las Vegas Strip nightclub, according to a police arrest report. The identities of the three other alleged attackers were blacked out in the report. No other arrests have been made. Officer Larry Hadfield, a Las Vegas police spokesman, called the investigation ongoing. ... Commanders S Deshazor Everett was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of his girlfriend following a car crash two days before Christmas.
NHL: New Ducks GM Pat Verbeek announced that Hall of Fame defenseman Scott Niedermayer joined the team’s front office as a special adviser to the hockey operations department. Niedermayer, 48, played his final five seasons with the Ducks before retiring in 2010. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP when the Ducks won the Stanley Cup in 2007. ... The Flyers named former franchise great Danny Briere special assistant to the GM. Briere, 44, led the Flyers to the Cup Final in 2010. He retired after the 2014-15 season.