CJ McCollum goals for the 2024-25 NBA season with the New Orleans Pelicans

When the New Orleans Pelicans traded for CJ McCollum from the Portland Trail Blazers, they were hoping to add a steady playmaker who could creat offense from the perimeter and a veteran presence to instill wisdom for their young locker room. So far, he's surpassed every expectation since landing in the Big Easy.

Despite playing in the shadow of one of the greatest talents the game has ever since in Damian Lillard, McCollum was able to carve out several marquee moments of his own in Rip City. Now, he's been tasked with helping to take this Pelicans team over the hump, from a burgeoning up-and-coming squad to a bona fide title threat.

McCollum has helped lead the Pelicans to the playoffs twice since his arrival, the first two times for New Orleans in the Zion Williamson era. After guiding the league and its players through a new Collective Bargaining Agreement as president of the NBA's Player Association, he can now retrain his focus entirely on the court. This upcoming season is a crucial one for the now 33-year-old star and his team. CJ McCollum should have some lofty goals for himself and the New Orleans Pelicans this year.

Goals to help CJ McCollum take the New Orleans Pelicans to the next level

1. Achieve a 3:1 assist-turnover ratio

The Pelicans might not have any pure point guards on the roster, but they have several playmakers and secondary creators. CJ McCollum has been one of their primary offensive conductors since his arrival, suiting up as their de facto point guard. Now, with Dejounte Murray set to share the backcourt, it'll alleviate some of the playmaking onus off of CJ, Zion, and Brandon Ingram.

With less pressure to be their primary playmaker, it wouldn't be surprising to see CJ's assist and overall passing numbers go down. While it'd be unreasonable to expect his assists to climb with another star ballhandler on board, the diminished responsibility should allow him to pick his spots better.

For his career, McCollum's assist-turnover ratio stands at 2.1:1. That's a good mark for a high usage guard. But the truly elite floor generals can clear that line easily. CJ has only had one season with an assist-turnover ratio better than 3:1. He should look to add another one next year.

2. Get up to 9 3PA per game

CJ McCollum wasn't always known as an elite outside shooter, but he's become just that as of late, bred out of necessity for his role with the Pelicans roster construction. Last season, he strung together the best 3-point shooting campaign of his career, having hit nearly 43 percent of his 8.4 attempts per game.

New Orleans will likely need even more output from beyond the arc from him next year, though. The Pelicans could use as much shooting and floor spacing as possible, and the roster isn't exactly ripe with feared snipers. CJ has earned the reputation of a shooter that can't be left open. He'll need to maintain that lethality and respect to stretch defenses out for his team. Slightly increasing his attempts to nine a game next season will mean that he increased his aggression from downtown to counter his reduced on-ball responsibilities with Dejounte Murray in the backcourt.