Pelicans acquire C.J. McCollum in 7-player swap: sources

The New Orleans Pelicans have acquired guard C.J. McCollum from the Portland Trail Blazers as part of a seven-player trade, according to two people familiar with the situation.

The Pelicans will also receive forwards Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell in the deal, while the Trail Blazers get Josh Hart, Tomas Staoransky, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Didi Louzada, as well as draft compensation in the form or a 2022 protected first round draft choice and two future second-rounders. The people spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been made official.

• NBA Transaction Tracker

The trade marks the end of an era on Portland, where McCollum has been paired with Damian Lillard in the backcourt since 2013. Portland has 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 New Orleans appears to be on the upswing under first-year coach Willie Green — despite playing without star forward Zion Williamson all season. 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.

Williamson, incidentally, has been in Oregon trying to rehabilitate from off-season surgery to repair his fractured right foot. It is unclear if he will be ready to return at all this season.

New Orleans is making less than 33% from 3-point range this season and they are 29th in the league 3-pointers made. McCollum has shot no less than 37.5% from beyond the arc every season from deep in every season of his career, while shooting 38.4% overall for his career.

The NBA trade deadline is Thursday at 3 p.m. ET. 

Pacers put together new look in 6-player deal with Kings

The Indiana Pacers traded two-time all-star Domantas Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings in a 6-player deal, a person with direct knowledge of the details confirmed to The Associated Press.

Sacramento is sending Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson to the Pacers, the person told AP, speaking only on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been officially announced.

The Kings will get Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb and a second-round draft pick plus Sabonis, who is averaging 18.9 points, 12.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. He leads the Pacers in all three categories.

It's the second major deal Indiana has made in less than a week. The Pacers also sent Caris LeVert to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the injured Ricky Rubio and three draft picks including a lottery-protected first-round selection this summer. Rubio has already been ruled out for the rest of this season and has an expiring contract.

Sabonis and Indiana shot-blocker Myles Turner have been the speculation of trade rumours for weeks.

Indiana appears to be regrouping after a roster severely depleted by injuries and COVID-19 issues have left the Pacers near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. The moves also could help the Pacers become a bigger player in free agency next summer.

Haliburton is averaging 14.3 points, 7.4 assists and is tied for sixth in the league with 1.7 steals. He's also 11th in assists. Hield is third in the NBA in 3-pointers this season and Thompson should fill a need inside with the Pacers scrambling with post play because of injuries.

The Kings, meanwhile, are getting Sabonis — who has become a double-double machine over the past couple of seasons — and two more scorers in Holiday and Lamb. Holiday is averaging 11.0 points while Lamb averages 7.1 while coming off the bench this season. Lamb also has an expiring contract.