The Washington Wizards' decision to trade guard Jordan Poole to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a four-player deal that acquired veteran sharpshooter CJ McCollum reportedly stemmed from the team's desire to improve both in the short term and the long term.

The Washington Wizards have agreed to trade guard Jordan Poole, wing Saddiq Bey and the 40th pick in this year’s draft to the New Orleans Pelicans for guard CJ McCollum, big man Kelly Olynyk and a 2027 second-round pick that originally belonged to Chicago, team sources told The Athletic.