Point guard CJ McCollum is reportedly has closed a two-year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. He will earn US$ 64 million with the agreement.
However, the new contract will only take effect in 2024. In the next two seasons. McCollum will have US$69.1 million in salary, referring to his old contract.
In this way, the advance extend deal will not only prevent McCollum from testing the market as a free agent two years from now, but ensure his stay on the Pelicans until 2026.
Furthermore, McCollum is part of a select group in the NBA. According to reports, he is one of six athletes to average over 20 points over the past seven seasons. The others are LeBron James, Anthony Davis, James Harden, Paul George and DeMar DeRozan.
McCollum has played 590 NBA games. In 2021/22, his first with the Pelicans, he averaged 24.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 26 games. In addition, his use in perimeter shots was almost 40%.
The 31-year-old player joined the New Orleans team in February of this year after nine seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, consistently leading the Oregon team to the playoffs.
In fact, the arrival of McCollum was fundamental for the Pelicans’ start towards the postseason. After all, with him on the court, the team won 14 games and finished the regular season in ninth position in the Western Conference.
This, in the play-in , the Pelicans surpassed the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers. Thus, he returned to the playoffs after four years.
However, the team fell to the Phoenix Suns in the first round. However, New Orleans left a good impression, as they won two games in the duel against the best record team in the regular season.
