How CJ McCollum and the Pelicans can stick it to the Trail Blazers

When the New Orleans Pelicans traded for CJ McCollum, they raised their ceiling as a franchise and gave the team a third guy to go with Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson.

While the future looks bright for New Orleans, they’d also like to take care of the present, and have a chance to make the playoffs tonight with a win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

This would be a big win for a lot of reasons, namely that it’s been awhile since the Pels made the playoffs and it would be a positive step in the right direction for a young team with a new head coach that is missing its best player.

The Pelicans have the rare opportunity to make the playoffs and still have a lottery pick, as the one they are owed by the Lakers is almost guaranteed to convey this season and will be in the top-10.

One team that will be cheering against the Pelicans tonight is the Portland Trail Blazers, whose future in the 2022 NBA Draft will be partially dictated by what happens with New Orleans tonight.

New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers in the 2022 NBA Draft

As part of the McCollum trade, the Pelicans owe Portland a protected pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

The Pels will have to send their own first rounder to Portland as long as it falls between 5 and 14 in the Draft.

But if they do make the playoffs, their pick would immediately fall outside of that range, which means they would send it to Charlotte to complete the Devonte’ Graham trade and send Portland Milwaukee’s 2025 pick instead.

New Orleans would gladly take the losing the pick this offseason if it meant making the playoffs.

CJ McCollum would love to have a big night tonight, lead the Pelicans to the playoffs and stick it to his old team at the same time, which would really just be a side benefit of a playoff berth.