<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-lakers-magic-named-possible-cj-mccollum-trade-suitors');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Lakers, Magic named possible CJ McCollum trade suitors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Lakers-Magic-named-possible-CJ-McCollum-trade-suitors.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Lakers, Magic named possible CJ McCollum trade suitors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-20T12:49:11-08:00">December 20th, 12:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-20T12:49:11-08:00">December 20th, 12:49pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/latest-jimmy-butler-zach-lavine-nba-trade-rumors-siegels-scoop">New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly exploring trade opportunities</a> for several players amid a disappointing 5-23 start to the season. With injuries to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram derailing their campaign, the Pelicans have been receptive to trade inquiries on all players except Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, according to NBA Insider Brett Siegel. Among the potential trade candidates, veteran guard CJ McCollum has emerged as a strong option.</p><p>McCollum, 33, is in the second year of a two-year, $63.9 million deal, earning $33.3 million this season with $30.6 million slated for 2024-25. In 15 games this season, McCollum is averaging 20.9 points, 3.9 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 43.6% from the field and 32.5% from three-point range. Known for his scoring ability, McCollum is also regarded as a solid defender, adding to his appeal for teams looking for a two-way contributor.</p><p>The Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic are two teams identified by Siegel as potential suitors for McCollum. The Lakers, with a 15-12 record, are active in trade discussions as they aim to strengthen their roster ahead of the February 6 trade deadline. They have <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-lakers-3-clear-needs-ahead-of-trade-deadline">prioritized three needs</a>: a defensive-minded center, a 3-and-D wing, and a guard with point-of-attack defensive capabilities. Although McCollum stands at 6’3” and is not a traditional defensive stopper, his ability to guard opposing guards effectively and his offensive versatility make him a logical fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.</p><h2><b>Lakers, Magic could emerge as top suitors for CJ McCollum ahead of trade deadline</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CJ-McCollum-3-shoots-the-ball-while-Indiana-Pacers-center-Myles-Turner-33.jpg"><figcaption>© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>To facilitate a trade, the Lakers would likely need to part with D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura to match McCollum’s salary. Russell is in the final year of a two-year, $18.6 million contract. Hachimura, meanwhile, is on a three-year, $51 million deal, making $17 million this season and $18.2 million in its final year during the 2025-26 season. A package involving these contracts would align with McCollum’s $33.3 million salary for this season.</p><p>The Orlando Magic, currently 17-12 and fourth in the Eastern Conference, are another team to watch in the McCollum sweepstakes. With <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-orlando-players-who-must-step-up-after-franz-wagner-injury">Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner sidelined due to torn right obliques</a>, the Magic have lost three consecutive games and struggled offensively, <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/traditional?dir=D&amp;sort=PTS" rel="noopener">ranking 28th</a> in the NBA in scoring with an average of 106.8 points per game. McCollum’s veteran leadership, defensive capabilities, and scoring would complement Orlando’s young core and address the team’s offensive struggles. Siegel suggests a potential trade package could include Cole Anthony, who is in the second year of a three-year, $39 million deal. Anthony, earning $12.9 million this season, is having a down year with averages of 5.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists but has shown significant upside in previous seasons.</p><p>As the trade deadline approaches, McCollum’s two-way skills and veteran experience make him a highly sought-after asset for teams like the Lakers and Magic, both of whom are eager to solidify their playoff aspirations.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Lakers, Magic named possible CJ McCollum trade suitors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pelicans-news-cj-mccollum-trey-murphy-iii-address-trade-rumors-rockets-nba-deadline');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pelicans’ CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy III address trade rumors before visiting Rockets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CJ-McCollum-Trey-Murphy-III-address-trade-rumors-before-Rockets-game.jpg"></figure><h1>Pelicans’ CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy III address trade rumors before visiting Rockets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-18T19:16:43-08:00">December 18th, 7:16pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-18T19:16:43-08:00">December 18th, 7:16pm</time><address><a>Chris Dodson</a>Chris Dodson is a Memphis Grizzlies beat reporter for ClutchPoints who has also covered the New Orleans Pelicans. He has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball in spurts for over a decade. A basketball lifer from the bayou, his gumbo-stirring form matches his elbow jumper celebrations. Fast enough for varsity hoops, tall enough for a soccer scholarship. He has words and will travel, just not on the court.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-dyson-daniels-nola-cursed-label">cursed, injury-plagued New Orleans Pelicans</a> are running out of time and options this season and it’s not yet Christmas. Dozens of games missed by Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, and Trey Murphy III have taken a toll. Fans are in a frenzy and other front offices are calling to ask which rotational pieces are available in a trade. The outside noise had become near-deafening over the past few weeks as the Pelicans (5-22) fell to the bottom of the Western Conference standings.</p><p>Murphy III <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs8zPXBm0h0" rel="noopener">did not hold back</a> when asked about the team’s difficulties and some Pelicans being mentioned in NBA Trade Deadline rumors.</p><p>“It’s part of the business,” Murphy III stated. “I figured it out my rookie year, especially when the trade deadline came and they traded (Nickeil Alexander-Walker). He was one of my best friends. I was with him for every road trip, dinner, and all that stuff. The next day he is gone so you kind of get numb to it. It’s a part of reality. You just wish the best for the next person.”</p><p>McCollum<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3k1iw9WK5g" rel="noopener"> brushed off the yearly tradition</a> with a laugh.</p><p>“What are the rumors?” McCollum asked. “What players have been (named)?”</p><p>“I’ve been in the league a long time,” added McCollum. “It’s the time of the year where you can turn your mentions off (for your cell phone). You can turn on your alerts or turn them off. For a lot of guys who’ve been in the league, they understand it. Generally speaking, most guys aren’t going to be lifers on one team. There are only a handful of guys throughout the league’s history that have only played on one team.”</p><p>Fans of the Pelicans did get some sympathy from a somber-sounding McCollum.</p><p>“It’s been difficult. Losing is not great. You don’t really feel comfortable doing anything,” McCollum stressed. “It doesn’t really feel comfortable going out to eat. You feel bad for the fans and everyone involved in the environment of trying to win games. But it’s our reality. We’ve got to continue to work hard and give ourselves the best chance to dig ourselves out of a tough hole.”</p><h2>Pelicans trying to break a losing cycle</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CJ-McCollum-defense-Pelicans.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/why-pelicans-cannot-move-dejounte-murray-before-nba-trade-deadline-dyson-daniels-draft-assets">Pelicans have limited options</a> considering the market for Murray, Ingram, and Williamson. Murphy III has been in this kind of 25% win rate cycle before unfortunately.</p><p>“I haven’t been on the best teams in my life, I’ll say that,” admitted Murphy III. “It is not fun when you are accustomed to winning. Last year we won almost 50 games, winning at a decently high rate. Now it doesn’t feel good. People are frustrated. We want to make a change about it and in ourselves, you know, fighting it out. Against Indiana, at times we weren’t playing together.”</p><p>McCollum, ever the consummate professional oozing veteran leadership, maintained an even keel when detailing what the Pelicans might change.</p><p>“You’ve got to do your job,” McCollum said. “Your job is to prepare and give your best effort each night. It starts with preparation and trying to string together some wins. We’re not doing well, so teams are going to be circling like sharks. Trying to see who they can poach. Our team is maybe entertaining trades, maybe not entertaining trades. Who knows? It’s about how you prepare.”</p><p>In a multi-billion dollar industry, someone is always watching how a player prepares for and reacts to certain situations. McCollum knows those eyes can lead to life-changing moments. It led him to the Pelicans after all.</p><p>“You want to be in the position to be liked by more than just one team because it means you have something to offer,” McCollum stressed. “If teams are calling and inquiring about you, it means you have value beyond where you’re currently at. Your job is to create value for yourself and your family.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pelicans’ CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy III address trade rumors before visiting Rockets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pelicans-news-elfrid-payton-decision-amid-mccollum-murray-injury-returns');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pelicans make Elfrid Payton decision amid CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray injury returns');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NOLA-makes-Elfrid-Payton-decision-amid-CJ-McCollum-Dejounte-Murray-injury-returns.jpg"></figure><h1>Pelicans make Elfrid Payton decision amid CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray injury returns</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-03T14:44:12-08:00">December 3rd, 2:44pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-03T14:44:39-08:00">December 3rd, 2:44pm</time><address><a>Kris Pursiainen</a>Kris Pursiainen is an Associate Editor for all sports based in the NJ/NYC area. Kris brings several years of experience reporting on and writing about professional teams to the table. With experience all over the country as a New York Knicks, New York Jets, New York Mets, Super Bowl LVIII, and Big East beat reporter, Kris has been breaking news and reporting on the NBA, NFL, MLB, and college basketball landscapes for years. Kris is a proud graduate of Fordham University.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New Orleans Pelicans’ injury woes are lightening up. This leaves the team with decisions to make regarding the players that stepped up in the absence of guards CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray. And in the case of Elfrid Payton, the decision from the team on Tuesday was to waive the veteran guard, <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1864062914811801839" rel="noopener">per ESPN’s Shams Charania</a>.</p><p>“The New Orleans Pelicans are waiving guard Elfrid Payton, sources tell ESPN,” Charania wrote. “Payton averaged 6.7 points, 6.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds in seven games for the Pelicans — including a 14-point, 21-assist performance on Nov. 25.”</p><p>The seven games in New Orleans were Payton’s first at the NBA level since the 2021-22 season, when he averaged 11.0 minutes per game for the Suns. The statement performance Charania alluded to came in the team’s 114-110 loss to the Indiana Pacers on November 25. Payton had <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-elfrid-payton-internet-buzzing-posting-assist-total-pacers">fans of all NBA teams buzzing on social media</a> with his resurgence.</p><h2><b>Payton’s departure from Pelicans marks potential turning point</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Elfrid-Payton-New-Orleans-Pelicans.jpg"><figcaption>Stephen Lew-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Payton did everything the Pelicans asked of him when they <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-rewarded-elfrid-payton-years-long-resiliency-nba-return-john-ehret-university-louisiana">called him up from the G-League</a>. With several starting guards injured, he gave the team earnest veteran guard play. But with Murray and McCollum back from injuries, Payton’s role dwindled majorly. After playing only 17 minutes in the team’s 118-85 blowout loss to his former Knicks, the guard played just six minutes during Monday night’s 124-112 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.</p><p>It’s understandable for general manager David Griffin to waive Payton. It’s an acknowledgement that neither party is optimizing their time with the veteran sitting on the bench. But the team needs the move to mark an inflection point in its season.</p><p>The Pelicans are dead last in the Western Conference. They have lost nine straight games. As a result, they sit at 4-18 and have only won one game out of their last ten. The team is 1-11 on the road this season. The list goes on.</p><p>With Brandon Ingram <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-news-pelicans-brandon-ingram-intriguing-move-klutch-sports">apparently willing to jump ship in search of a new contract</a>, Griffin’s vision seems to have just been a mirage. Unless Willie Green and the Pelicans can turn things around now, the team is in danger of having its season become another full of disappointment.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pelicans make Elfrid Payton decision amid CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray injury returns

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pelicans-news-cj-mccollum-dejounte-murray-deliver-must-win-injury-statement-raptors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pelicans’ CJ McCollum joins Dejounte Murray in calling out ‘horrible’ process');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CJ-McCollum-joins-Dejounte-Murray-in-calling-out-horrible-process.jpg"></figure><h1>Pelicans’ CJ McCollum joins Dejounte Murray in calling out ‘horrible’ process</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-28T13:11:24-08:00">November 28th, 1:11pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-28T13:11:24-08:00">November 28th, 1:11pm</time><address><a>Chris Dodson</a>Chris Dodson is a Memphis Grizzlies beat reporter for ClutchPoints who has also covered the New Orleans Pelicans. He has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball in spurts for over a decade. A basketball lifer from the bayou, his gumbo-stirring form matches his elbow jumper celebrations. Fast enough for varsity hoops, tall enough for a soccer scholarship. He has words and will travel, just not on the court.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-willie-green-facing-calamity-close-out-2024-zion-williamson-january-injury-timeline"> New Orleans Pelicans are facing disaster</a> to close out the 2024 calendar year’s schedule. Zion Williamson and Willie Green are starting to feel the heat from the Smoothie King Center’s booing fans and a couple of players might have added field to that fire. Veterans CJ McCollum and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-dejounte-murray-apologizes-to-fans-with-embarrassed-rant">Dejounte Murray delivered apologetic must-win, cannot-lose statements</a> after the Pelicans (4-15) were ripped apart by the Toronto Raptors (5-14).</p><p>Still, McCollum <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipBCr9gMV5E" rel="noopener">made no excuses</a> after being on the bad end of a blowout.</p><p>“I think it’s from top to bottom we have all got to be better,” stated McCollum. “We can’t have these types of showing especially. It was a horrible game, a horrible performance from myself down to the last guy.”</p><p>“It was a horrible showing,” McCollum admitted. “We have got to do a better job and it starts with our approach days before the game. How we execute and practice how our walk-throughs are going, I think it’s just urgency in a lot of things that we just got to get better at. Execution even when there is nobody on the floor, there’s no crowd, and there’s no opponent. We’ve got to get better and all that carries over to performances like tonight.”</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CJ-McCollum-Pelicans-2.jpg"><figcaption>Stephen Lew-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Dejounte Murray was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6JuCztE6j0&amp;t=329s" rel="noopener">not as diplomatic</a> as McCollum in his assessment.</p><p>“This game was embarrassing. You don’t want these bad habits to build…It’s not really about the loss, [but] how we lost in front of our fans,” Murray explained. “Like, even the fans booing, I mean, what would you do if you were a fan paying your money? You want to come to watch a competitive basketball game, especially from your home team. So, they have all the right to say what they want and feel how they feel. They deserve a better game.”</p><p>CJ McCollum did offer solutions for Green to implement over the next few weeks, starting with a three-game road trip.</p><p>“It starts with practice. It starts with your approach to practice,” McCollum said. “Obviously we’re not going to have a lot of practices because of the schedule, because of the travel. So when we get shootarounds and have those moments where we can get better at things, we have to take advantage of it. Then it has to carry over to the game.”</p><p>“You are going to lose games but we can’t lose how we did tonight,” continued McCollum. “I think that’s the difference. We’ve got to be able to compete. You’ve got to be able to execute the game plan and give yourself a chance to win games. (The Pelicans under Willie Green) have done it in the past. Now we have to do it at a high level immediately because you know there’s not a lot of time in the Western Conference. You can’t get too far behind.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pelicans’ CJ McCollum joins Dejounte Murray in calling out ‘horrible’ process

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pelicans-news-cj-mccollum-first-game-back-injury-cut-corners-defense-shots-not-falling-pacers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pelicans’ CJ McCollum won’t find solace in moral victories after returning from injury');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Pelicans-news-CJ-McCollum-wont-find-solace-in-moral-victories-after-returning-from-injury.jpg"></figure><h1>Pelicans’ CJ McCollum won’t find solace in moral victories after returning from injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-26T12:14:51-08:00">November 26th, 12:14pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-26T12:21:10-08:00">November 26th, 12:21pm</time><address><a>Chris Dodson</a>Chris Dodson is a Memphis Grizzlies beat reporter for ClutchPoints who has also covered the New Orleans Pelicans. He has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball in spurts for over a decade. A basketball lifer from the bayou, his gumbo-stirring form matches his elbow jumper celebrations. Fast enough for varsity hoops, tall enough for a soccer scholarship. He has words and will travel, just not on the court.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-elfrid-payton-internet-buzzing-posting-assist-total-pacers">New Orleans Pelicans have a hometown hero</a> providing some silver linings to an otherwise bleak season. Thankfully, Willie Green’s rotations are getting two big boosts before Thanksgiving Day. Elfrid Payton will understand the wait to get a handful of minutes now that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-cj-mccollum-dejounte-murray-injury-updates-amid-darkness-losing-streak">CJ McCollum (abductor) and Dejounte Murray (hand) are returning</a> from injury. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-david-griffin-should-applaud-zion-williamson-brandon-ingram-agency-moves-caa-excel-fired">Zion Williamson and the Pelicans needed the positivity</a> after a road loss to the Indiana Pacers capped off what was a chaotic weekend.</p><p>However, McCollum knows the offense will need a little time but the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZyYTajCm14" rel="noopener">corners cut on defense</a> are what will effectively kill the injury-ravaged Pelicans this season.</p><p>“We’ve got to take away some of those and-ones we gave throughout the game,” McCollum explained. “It’s just the little stuff. (Pascal Siakam) got a duck-in on me, got a couple more throughout the game. It’s the little stuff we’ve got to get better at. Then we’ve got to execute and make shots down the stretch.”</p><p>The first night back after almost a month (13 games) watching from the sidelines went well though. McCollum (30 minutes) finished with 23 points (9-20 FG, 3-10 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds and one assist.</p><p>“I think I got my legs underneath me as the game,” McCollum shared. “Wasn’t great in the first half, trying to find my rhythm, a little rusty but as the game progressed I think we played better as a team. Played well, but not well enough to win. We had some good possessions down the stretch we just didn’t capitalize. I missed a three at the top of the key. We had some good looks then I missed a corner three but all-in-all we competed and played well.”</p><p>Green is not <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19S4rcOOAU4" rel="noopener">worried about any future problems</a> figuring out a starting five. The Pelicans have to be fully healthy for that kind of head coaching headache to be possible. In the meantime, McCollum is cleared to fire away from the opening tip at least until Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, and Dejounte Murray are off the injury report.</p><p>“Great to have (McCollum) back,” replied Green. “We worked his way, worked himself into the game as the game progressed. Really good to have CJ on the floor, he is one of our leaders. His ability to create for himself and his teammates offensively, he’s just solid. We’ll need more of that from him.”</p><h2><b>Pelicans, CJ McCollum under pressure at home</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CJ-McCollum-Pelicans-1.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>As for Pelicans losing 14 out of the last 16 games? Green is not worried with McCollum and Dejounte Murray returning before Thanksgiving Day. New Orleans has been through tough times before, yet Green’s Pelicans always wind up in the NBA Play-In Tournament conversation at the minimum.</p><p>CJ McCollum could only shake his head after the loss knowing the shorthanded Pelicans let a winnable game slip away.</p><p>“(Trey Murphy III) had some good looks, (Elfrid Payton) had a middie,” noted McCollum. “I had that top of the key three rim out, that corner three rim out. I think we’ve got to get stops too. It sounds great how we’ve got to make shots on offense and that’s what it takes to win games but we’ve also got to get stops. They hit a couple of big shots, threw a lob, hit a three, hit a middie.”</p><p>The Pelicans (4-14) will head home for a matchup against the Toronto Raptors (4-14) on Thanksgiving Eve. Green was anxious to leave Indiana, itching for a meeting against another lottery team. New Orleans is seeing this squad fight. Breaking the losing streak in the Smoothie King Center would go a long way to winning back some fans. The locker room is more important, and that is what Green is focusing on during the flight back to the Big Easy.</p><p>“Adversity makes us stronger,” Green said. “We need to continue to stay together, which our guys are doing a great job of. Eventually, we will overcome this situation and we will be better for it in the long run. Right now, we’re in it. We’re in the thick of it. I’ll get up here and tell you exactly what I told our guys. The effort is there. I’m proud of them, they continued to fight. They continue to stay together and it’ll turn for us.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pelicans’ CJ McCollum won’t find solace in moral victories after returning from injury

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pelicans-news-cj-mccollum-dejounte-murray-injury-updates-amid-darkness-losing-streak');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pelicans’ CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray get uplifting injury updates vs. Pacers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CJ-McCollum-injury-update-brings-light-amid-darkness.jpg"></figure><h1>Pelicans’ CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray get uplifting injury updates vs. Pacers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-24T15:24:52-08:00">November 24th, 3:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-24T15:26:46-08:00">November 24th, 3:26pm</time><address><a>Chris Dodson</a>Chris Dodson is a Memphis Grizzlies beat reporter for ClutchPoints who has also covered the New Orleans Pelicans. He has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball in spurts for over a decade. A basketball lifer from the bayou, his gumbo-stirring form matches his elbow jumper celebrations. Fast enough for varsity hoops, tall enough for a soccer scholarship. He has words and will travel, just not on the court.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Indiana Pacers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-rehabbing-zion-williamson-trusts-willie-green-good-spirits">New Orleans Pelicans showed a positive, fighting spirit</a> in a recent four-point NBA Cup loss to the Golden State Warriors (November 22). It was Stephen Curry’s crew that last <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-zion-williamson-biggest-disappointment-early-nba-2024-25-season-yves-missi-jordan-hawkins-antonio-reeves-karlo-matkovic">saw the Pelicans at anywhere near full strength</a>. CJ McCollum (right adductor strain) took a knock requiring almost a month of recovery treatment and Dejounte Murray (left hand fracture) was already doing post-operation work. Thankfully, two encouraging McCollum and Murray injury updates <a href="https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/injury-report-cj-mccollum-dejounte-murray-have-upgraded-statuses-for-monday-game-at-indiana" rel="noopener">brought a bit more light</a> to the Gulf South’s bummed basketball fans before facing the Indiana Pacers.</p><p>McCollum (questionable) was last seen on the court in an October 29 road loss versus the Warriors. The respected 33-year-old veteran has averaged 21 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.4 rebounds since joining the Pelicans (171 games). McCollum is posting a 40.6% three-point success rate as well, giving everyone room to work in the process.</p><p>Getting another offensive threat into the starting lineup will go a long way to freeing up Brandon Ingram. Murray (doubtful) will be tasked with setting the table for McCollum and Ingram once the team’s newest point guard is cleared for live-action contact. The 28-year-old is averaging 15.4 points, 5.3 assists, and 5.8 rebounds over a 473-game career. Unfortunately, Murray managed just 30 minutes with the Pelicans before being put in a cast.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CJ-McCollum-Pelicans.jpg"><figcaption>Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Green will still be without Yves Missi (left shoulder soreness), Jose Alvarado (left hamstring strain), Herb Jones (right shoulder strain), Karlo Matkovic (G League on assignment), and Zion Williamson (left hamstring strain) against the Pacers. The Pelicans will fly home for a Thanksgiving Eve meeting with the Toronto Raptors. New Orleans then has five of the next seven games on the road, and none look easy.</p><p>Both McCollum and Murray will have to get up to speed in a hurry to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-trey-murphy-iii-finding-flow-easier-after-injury-return-willie-green">help Trey Murphy III keep the Pelicans</a> in the NBA Play-In Tournament conversation.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pelicans’ CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray get uplifting injury updates vs. Pacers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pelicans-news-brandon-ingram-cj-mccollum-injury-updates-warriors-nba-cup-game');   ga('set', 'title', 'Brandon Ingram in, CJ McCollum out for Warriors-Pelicans NBA Cup game');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/0-Brandon-Ingram-CJ-McCollum-injury-updates-for-Warriors-New-Orleans-NBA-Cup-game-0.jpg"></figure><h1>Brandon Ingram in, CJ McCollum out for Warriors-Pelicans NBA Cup game</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-22T10:31:51-08:00">November 22nd, 10:31am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-22T10:35:46-08:00">November 22nd, 10:35am</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New Orleans Pelicans are set to host the Golden State Warriors on Friday night. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-brandon-ingram-trey-murphy-iii-among-players-out-vs-cavs">Pelicans have unfortunately dealt with no shortage of injury trouble</a> throughout the 2024-25 NBA season. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/warriors-news-stephen-curry-playing-pelicans-nba-cup-injury-update">Warriors have some injury concerns</a> of their own, but New Orleans’ injury situation is disastrous at the moment. Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum are among the Pelicans dealing with injuries heading into Friday’s NBA Cup game.</p><p>Ingram is battling a left ankle sprain. McCollum is dealing with a right adductor strain. New Orleans is looking to upset the Warriors, so Ingram and McCollum’s final injury statuses will certainly be of the utmost importance.</p><p>So are Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum playing tonight vs. the Warriors?</p><p><b><i>*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV </i></b><a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/nba/?irad=356361&amp;irmp=492408" rel="noopener sponsored"><b><i>(click for a free trial)*</i></b></a></p><h2><b>Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum’s injury statuses for Warriors-Pelicans game</b></h2><p>Brandon Ingram was <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2024-11-22_11AM.pdf" rel="noopener">listed as questionable</a> and CJ McCollum was listed as doubtful, per the NBA injury report. However, the Pelicans announced that Ingram <a href="https://x.com/PelicansNBA/status/1860026283864047799" rel="noopener">will be available</a> while McCollum has been ruled out.</p><p>Ingram is averaging 23.2 points per game on 46.6 percent field goal and 37 percent three-point shooting so far in the 2024-25 campaign. He is recording averages of 5.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 0.9 steals per outing as well. Ingram has played in 15 of the Pelicans’ 16 games up to this point in the season.</p><p>McCollum, meanwhile, has played in only four games this season. The veteran guard is averaging 18.8 points, 4.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game during that span. McCollum is also shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from beyond the arc.</p><p>The Pelicans feature a competitive roster. Injuries have been problematic for the team without question, however. At just 4-12, New Orleans is in a difficult position. They can still realistically make a postseason run if they can get healthy, though.</p><p>As for the question of if Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum are playing tonight vs. the Warriors, the answer is yes for Ingram and no for McCollum.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Brandon Ingram in, CJ McCollum out for Warriors-Pelicans NBA Cup game

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pelicans-cj-mccollum-issues-call-action-nbpa-poses-final-usa-presidential-election-2024-question');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pelicans’ CJ McCollum issues call to action, NBPA poses one final Election Day question');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Pelicans-CJ-McCollum-issues-call-to-action-NBPA-poses-one-final-Election-question.jpg"></figure><h1>Pelicans’ CJ McCollum issues call to action, NBPA poses one final Election Day question</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-04T15:07:20-08:00">November 4th, 3:07pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-04T15:08:45-08:00">November 4th, 3:08pm</time><address><a>Chris Dodson</a>Chris Dodson is a Memphis Grizzlies beat reporter for ClutchPoints who has also covered the New Orleans Pelicans. He has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball in spurts for over a decade. A basketball lifer from the bayou, his gumbo-stirring form matches his elbow jumper celebrations. Fast enough for varsity hoops, tall enough for a soccer scholarship. He has words and will travel, just not on the court.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The 2024 United States of America Presidential Election cycle is winding down but that just means more people are speaking up. National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) President and New Orleans Pelicans combo-guard CJ McCollum knows the power of the NBA platform on offer. The respected Pelicans veteran used that platform to send a non-partisan, civic-minded message before the voting process is completed.</p><p>While <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-willie-green-look-positives-first-amid-losing-streak-zion-williamson-brandon-ingram">Willie Green is preaching positivity to the Pelicans</a> amid a slew of struggles, McCollum is <a href="https://www.nbpa.com/news/nbpa-activates-its-members-and-the-basketball-community-to-get-out-and-vote-ahead-of-election-day" rel="noopener">stressing a sense of social urgency</a>.</p><p>“Voting rights haven’t always been a privilege in this country,” noted McCollum. “It is critical that we never forget that and use the power of our collective platforms to influence the change we hope to see in our country. Regardless of political affiliation or stance on key issues, it’s our goal to encourage not only NBA players, but all eligible voters to turn out to the polls this November and make their voices heard.”</p><p>Unfortunately, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-herb-jones-cj-mccollum-worrisome-injuries">McCollum will not be seen in Pelicans rotations</a> until after the election is over. McCollum will look good on Election Day though, thanks to a collaboration with the NBA, the apparel brand TUNL, and a few other community organizations.</p><h2>NBPA, Pelicans picking out Election Day outfits</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CJ-McCollum-collects-the-ball.jpg"><figcaption>Stephen Lew-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>McCollum and the Pelicans will be hitting the polling stations in style on November 5. The NBA and NBPA began working on voter registration initiatives for incoming rookies back in July 2024.<a href="http://www.thetunl.com/" rel="noopener"> An apparel collection</a> titled ‘But Did You Vote?’ posed the most important question of all to the league’s fans and players.</p><p>TUNL creative director and fashion designer Desyree Nicole collaborated with many NBPA members including Keita Bates-Diop, Kevon Looney, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Peyton Watson throughout the design process. As per the late October press release, the NBPA and TUNL were searching for solutions through art as the project came together.</p><p>“Designed to inspire action and spark conversations around voter registration and participation, the collection is rooted in the belief that real change starts with each of us,” the release stated. “This initiative reminds us that it’s not enough to simply talk about the issues – we must also be part of the solution.”</p><p>Encouraging NBPA members to vote is just one step. The NBPA Foundation, the Social Change Fund, and (TUNL) will donate a combined $60,000 to the When We All Vote organization, which will host four “Party at the Polls” events. Those events will pop up in Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin on Election Day.</p><p>Beth Lynk, Executive Director of When We All Vote, stressed that the<a href="https://whenweallvote.org/" rel="noopener"> culture of civic duty</a> goes beyond the court or any other day job.</p><p>“All industries, including sports and fashion, have a role to play in our democracy. It’s time to ask our teammates, ‘But Did You Vote?’ and to get in the game right now,” Lynk said. “We’re proud to partner with TUNL, the Social Change Fund, and the NBPA, including on this collection with Desyree Nicole, to make sure every eligible player and fan makes their voices heard and looks good at the ballot box.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pelicans’ CJ McCollum issues call to action, NBPA poses one final Election Day question

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pelicans-news-herb-jones-cj-mccollum-worrisome-injuries');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pelicans’ Herb Jones, CJ McCollum out at least two weeks with worrisome injuries');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Pelicans-news-Herb-Jones-CJ-McCollum-out-at-least-two-weeks-with-worrisome-injuries.jpg"></figure><h1>Pelicans’ Herb Jones, CJ McCollum out at least two weeks with worrisome injuries</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-01T11:10:18-07:00">November 1st, 11:10am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-01T11:28:21-07:00">November 1st, 11:28am</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New Orleans Pelicans announced on Friday that Herb Jones and CJ McCollum will both <a href="https://x.com/PelicansNBA/status/1852410364014801187" rel="noopener">miss extended periods of time</a> with shoulder and adductor injuries, respectively.</p><p>Jones sustained a right shoulder strain and a small low-grade partial thickness tear in his rotator cuff. His recovery timeframe is being listed as two to four weeks, and his return to play will be dictated based on his response to treatment and rehabilitation. As for McCollum, he has been diagnosed with a right adductor strain and will miss approximately two to three weeks worth of games. Both players will miss a minimum of two weeks due to their injuries.</p><p>These are two massive losses for the Pelicans, especially considering that starting point guard <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-dejounte-murray-gets-official-injury-timeline-after-hand-surgery">Dejounte Murray is also out indefinitely after suffering a fractured hand</a> and undergoing surgery. Now, three of the five starters in New Orleans are on the injury report just five games into the 2024-25 season.</p><p>After beginning the season 2-0, the Pelicans have dropped three straight games and are in danger of falling deeper in the Western Conference standings due to Jones and McCollum now being out indefinitely.</p><p>Both Jones and McCollum played in the team’s fourth game of the season against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. In this game, Jones played a total of 20 minutes before <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-herb-jones-exits-warriors-game-injury">exiting with a right shoulder injury</a>. He did not play in the team’s next game the following night against the Warriors.</p><p>McCollum did not leave Tuesday’s game early, but the team did hold him out of Wednesday night’s battle with Golden State due to what was being labeled as right adductor soreness. He will now sit out at least the next two weeks to recover.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-cj-mccollum-herb-jones-out-for-second-game-vs-warriors">Neither Jones nor McCollum played</a> in New Orleans’ last loss on Wednesday night to the Warriors.</p><p>In the four games he has played this season, Jones has averaged 6.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting 48.0 percent from the floor. Last season, he made the All-Defensive list and finished fifth in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year. McCollum has averaged 18.8 points and 4.0 assists per game this season while shooting 38.2 percent from the floor. His 13 made threes are tied with Jordan Hawkins for the most on the team.</p><p>Head coach Willie Green is now tasked with finding production on both sides of the court without several of his key contributors, including Trey Murphy III. The former first-round pick has yet to play this season after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-trey-murphy-iii-112-million-contract-extension">signing a $112 million contract extension</a> in the offseason due to a hamstring issue.</p><p>Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, the two stars of the organization who have dealt with the most injury-wise over the last couple of seasons, are the last two regular starters standing for New Orleans. It is expected that Hawkins, Javonte Green, and Jose Alvarado will all see their roles increase in the wake of Jones and McCollum being sidelined.</p><p>The Pelicans will provide further updates on the status of Jones and McCollum at a later date.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pelicans’ Herb Jones, CJ McCollum out at least two weeks with worrisome injuries

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pelicans-news-cj-mccollum-herb-jones-status-friday-vs-pacers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pelicans’ CJ McCollum, Herb Jones receive major injury updates before Pacers showdown');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Pelicans-news-CJ-McCollum-Herb-Jones-out-for-Friday-showdown-vs-Pacers.jpg"></figure><h1>Pelicans’ CJ McCollum, Herb Jones receive major injury updates before Pacers showdown</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-31T18:38:36-07:00">October 31st, 6:38pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-31T18:38:36-07:00">October 31st, 6:38pm</time><address><a>Dylan Fine</a>Dylan Fine focuses on the NFL and NCAA Football for ClutchPoints, in addition to working on the meme team. Dylan is a graduate of Georgetown University and has covered various topics ranging from local politics in the DMV region with DC Voter For Animals to live sporting events in the Long Island and Rochester areas with The Southampton Press and Pickin’Splinters. When he isn't working, he's usually running in preparation for the next annual Turkey Trot.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New Orleans Pelicans continue to have a season riddled with injuries. As star point guard <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-dejounte-murray-gets-official-injury-timeline-after-hand-surgery">Dejounte Murray recovers from hand surgery</a>, Zion Williamson and company have dealt with several health setbacks to key players.</p><p>Adding to the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-zion-williamson-message-doubters-amid-new-orleans-slow-start">Pelicans’ struggles</a> were recent injuries to CJ McCollum and Herb Jones who both missed Wednesday night’s loss to the Golden State Warriors. <a href="https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/injury-report-four-pelicans-ruled-out-of-fridays-game-against-indiana-pacers" rel="noopener">And the bad news unfortunately continued</a> for head coach Willie Green’s team.</p><p>Both McCollum and Jones are set to miss Friday night’s matchup against Indiana, according to the Pelicans’ official injury report on nba.com. McCollum is being listed as out with right abductor soreness, while <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-key-contributors-need-medical-attention-warriors-yves-missi-herbert-jones-shoulder-groin">Jones, who luckily avoided major shoulder surgery</a>, is out with a right shoulder strain.</p><h2><b>The Pelicans are falling behind in the West</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Image-of-Pelicans-point-guard-CJ-McCollum.jpg"><figcaption>Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It’s been a slow start to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-zion-williamson-vengeance-message-will-fire-up-fans">Zion Williamson’s “vengeance” quest</a> in his sixth year in New Orleans. The Pelicans currently sit at 2-3, twelfth in the West Conference. It’s super early in the season, but the struggles have been apparent, especially on offense, for Willie Green’s team. New Orleans is now second last in the league in offensive efficiency.</p><p>Brandon Ingram, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-trade-candidates-2024-25-training-camp">whose name has been in trade rumors</a> this offseason, is the Pelicans’ current leading scorer at 22.4 points per game. After him is McCollum, at 18.8 points per game, and then Williamson, who’s only averaging 18.3 points a contest on 36.4% from the field.</p><p>For a team that ranked 14th in offensive efficiency last year, the Pelicans will need to improve in this category if they are going to be serious contenders in the Western Conference this year. So far this season, the Oklahoma City <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/thunder-news-where-stand-nba-power-rankings-first-week-2024-25-season">Thunder have looked the part of a major contender</a>, leading the conference at 4-0.</p><p>Close behind them are the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/warriors-news-draymond-green-message-inspired-short-handed-warriors-comeback-victory">Golden State Warriors who look rejuvenated, specifically on defense</a>, where they rank second in efficiency on that side of the ball. And outside of the Portland Trail Blazers are a ton of teams in front of the Pelicans in the standings that have a realistic shot at contending for a playoff spot.</p><p>With all of this in mind, the Pelicans are facing another potential season in the Play-In or even outside the top ten of the Western Conference if they don’t fix their offensive woes and get healthy soon.</p><p>One player that might be key to helping the franchise stay afloat amid the injuries is Jordan Hawkins. The 2023 lottery pick out of Connecticut is putting up 16.2 points per game on over 40% from three-point range.</p><p>So far, Hawkins looks <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-willie-green-still-have-faith-in-jordan-hawkins-shooting">ready to live up to the expectations</a> Willie Green placed on him heading into the season. But time will tell if Jordan’s contributions can help propel the franchise to their first playoff series win since 2018.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pelicans’ CJ McCollum, Herb Jones receive major injury updates before Pacers showdown

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pelicans-news-cj-mccollum-herb-jones-out-for-second-game-vs-warriors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pelicans’ CJ McCollum, Herb Jones out for second game vs. Warriors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/CJ-McCollum-Herb-Jones-out-for-second-game-vs.jpg"></figure><h1>Pelicans’ CJ McCollum, Herb Jones out for second game vs. Warriors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-30T14:21:05-07:00">October 30th, 2:21pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-30T14:21:51-07:00">October 30th, 2:21pm</time><address><a>Christopher Smith</a>Christopher Smith is an associate editor covering a variety of sports with a beat focus on the Chicago Sky for ClutchPoints. The Aurora, Illinois native earned a degree in philosophy from Creighton University, where he also competed as a Division 1 Cross Country runner.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New Orleans Pelicans are gearing up to take on their fifth matchup of the 2024-25 season against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. However, the Pelicans have some major developments on their injury report, headlined by CJ McCollum and Herb Jones.</p><p>McCollum (right adductor soreness) and Jones ( right shoulder injury) <a href="https://x.com/PelicansNBA/status/1851717725183521171" rel="noopener">are ruled out</a> for Wednesday night’s game, the Pelicans announced on X (formerly Twitter).</p><p>CJ McCollum played 31 minutes in New Orleans’ 124-106 loss to the Warriors on Tuesday. On the season, the veteran guard averages 18.8 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.5 rebounds on a 38.2 three-point shooting clip.</p><p>Meanwhile, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-herb-jones-exits-warriors-game-injury">Herb Jones exited Tuesday’s game</a> after tweaking his shoulder while diving for a loose ball. He is arguably the Pelicans’ best defender, so his absence will be felt. Jones was averaging 6.8 points and a career-high 1.8 steals to start the season.  Hopefully, he and McCollum will undergo speedy recoveries.</p><p>The Pelicans enter the second night of their back-to-back matchup with the Warriors at 2-2. Things have been challenging during the early part of the season, but <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-zion-williamson-panic-slow-start-season-dejounte-murray-brandon-ingram">Zion Williamson and New Orleans are not a panic</a>.</p><p>“It’s a high level of urgency (in the locker room),” Williamson stated, per ClutchPoints’ Chris Dodson. “But not in a panic kind of way. More of a focus and coming together as a team kind of way. I can’t have eight turnovers. That’s just the truth of it…They were in the gaps baiting us to make those passes. (The Warriors) were on top of things. Now it’s about coming together as a team with the game plan and watching film then going from there.”</p><p>Williamson will need to bear more of the Pelicans’ load, given the team’s heavy injury report. He is coming off a 31-point performance against Golden State on Tuesday. Surely, Williamson and New Orleans will find a way to battle through and stay afloat.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pelicans’ CJ McCollum, Herb Jones out for second game vs. Warriors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pelicans-news-zion-williamson-difference-dejounte-murray-cj-mccollum');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pelicans’ Zion Williamson details key difference between Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Dejounte-Murray-Herb-Jones-defensive-pairing-earns-Willie-Greens-approval.jpg"></figure><h1>Pelicans’ Zion Williamson details key difference between Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-08T16:25:51-07:00">October 8th, 4:25pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-08T16:25:51-07:00">October 8th, 4:25pm</time><address><a>Chris Dodson</a>Chris Dodson is a New Orleans Pelicans beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball in spurts for over a decade. A basketball lifer from the bayou, his gumbo-stirring form matches his elbow jumper celebrations. Fast enough for varsity hoops, tall enough for a soccer scholarship. He has words and will travel, just not on the court.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/zion-williamsons-dominance-headlines-pelicans-preseason-win-magic">Zion Williamson-led New Orleans Pelicans wasted no time</a> in sending a message to their fans that this squad is ready for a fast start to the regular season. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-willie-green-credits-zion-williamson-preseason-success-to-conditioning">An in-shape Williamson dished out three assists</a> on the first three possessions, then hit a couple of floaters for good measure. Then Dejounte Murray moved into the offensive driver’s seat and the newest addition to the locker room wasted no time in showing off the new-look offense.</p><p>James Borrego and Green are getting more creative in New Orleans and the Pelicans are making some very noticeable changes with Murray as the starting point guard. Willie Green gave a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHIGxkDeYxI&amp;t=304s" rel="noopener">stamp of approval</a> after one game, a half really, of leading the offense.</p><p>“Love what I saw from Dejounte and his defense (with Herb Jones),” Green boasted, via the Pelicans’ YouTube channel. “I mean their ability to get steals and deflections ignite our transition opportunities. And then (Murray) can just settle the gym. He can run the pick-and-roll. He can get to his spots. You guys saw a couple of times jump up and shoot the ball. He’ll get more comfortable as we continue to progress.”</p><p>Williamson (19 minutes) and Murray (17 minutes) made the most of the midday 12:30 pm exhibition run. Still, Green had enough to elaborate on Murray navigating the pick and roll with Williamson and how it differs from last season.</p><p>“One of the things that we learned last season is when we would bring a lot of smalls and pick rolls with Zion and then they’re fives with track him. They’d meet (Williamson) at the rim,” explained Green. “So we’re trying to mix it up a little bit more (with Murray) this season and bring the fives to pick-and-rolls where (Williamson) can see him there in front of them and is not guys coming from the weak side trying to block his shots. We will continue to work on it, but we know watching film from last season. We think we can play with those groups a little bit.”</p><h2><b>Zion Williamson appreciates Pelicans PG investment</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Dejounte-Murray-prepares-for-Pelicans-debut.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Pelicans gave up first-round draft pick Dyson Daniels, respected veteran Larry Nance Jr., second-rounder E.J. Liddell, and draft assets to acquire Murray. Williamson <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVzUGvnVXoY&amp;t=301s" rel="noopener">appreciates the team’s investment</a> in a proper point guard, even if it does come at CJ McCollum’s expense.</p><p>“With Dejounte, I was telling about making a joke with CJ like, ‘It’s the first time in a while I’ve played with a real point guard,'” Williamson laughed. “Nah, it’s all love though. It’s just there were times CJ would try to play point and it’s like I appreciate it but I need him to score. With Dejounte, I’m setting certain screens and have to roll faster. Before with (McCollum) and (Brandon Ingram) coming off the screen it’s different. Now you have a true PG who is looking to make the pass first.”</p><p>Williamson and Murray know that one-half of preseason basketball is not the sample size to bet the house on. The All-Star duo has 82 games to get ready for an NBA playoff run. So how does Williamson feel about things so far?</p><p>“It’s just a chemistry we will build as the season goes on,” Williamson replied.</p><p>Green sounded a bit more optimistic during the postgame press conference.</p><p>“I love the fact that all the concepts that we’ve been working on in training camp, you can see a lot of carry-over, and that’s refreshing, to know that these guys are taking that information and they’re applying it,” Green said. “That’s what preseason is for, to get your group together, get them on the floor, make sure that we’re fundamentally sound.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pelicans’ Zion Williamson details key difference between Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pelicans-news-cj-mccollum-admission-ahead-12th-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pelicans star CJ McCollum’s exciting admission ahead of 12th season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/pelicans.jpg"></figure><h1>Pelicans star CJ McCollum’s exciting admission ahead of 12th season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-08T12:47:13-07:00">October 8th, 12:47pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-08T12:47:13-07:00">October 8th, 12:47pm</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>CJ McCollum’s role is among the top questions facing the New Orleans Pelicans entering the 2024-25 season. After the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-dejounte-murray-cant-stop-smiling-nola-trade">Pelicans acquired Dejounte Murray this offseason</a>, it’s unclear where the McCollum fits in the team’s offensive hierarchy. Despite this, the 12-year veteran <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1843724418222305481" rel="noopener">isn’t concerned </a>about his ability to adapt to the new-look rotation.</p><p>“I can do anything now, this is year twelve,” McCollum said during an interview with Sirius XM NBA Radio. “So I’m comfortable on the ball, I’m comfortable off the ball. I can catch and shoot. I think my points per possession is really high, especially in catch-and-shoot situations. I can attack closeouts, I can plan in transition. So I’m honestly comfortable with all phases of the offensive side of the basketball because I’ve played every role on the spectrum.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I can do anything now, this is year twelve."</p><p>CJ McCollum on this upcoming season with the Pelicans 🗣️</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/SiriusXMNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SiriusXMNBA</a>)<a href="https://t.co/WwB8lIibov">pic.twitter.com/WwB8lIibov</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1843724418222305481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>While <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-cj-mccollum-reacts-to-possibility-of-bench-role">McCollum is in line for a role reduction</a> amid Murray’s arrival, he’ll still be a crucial part of the Pelicans’ rotation in 2024-25.</p><h2>What is CJ McCollum’s role for the Pelicans this season?</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/imagn_e4296f.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>McCollum has not come off the bench since the 2014-15 season, starting his last 631 games. That could change in 2024-25.</p><p>While McCollum has been a focal point of New Orleans’ offense over the last two seasons, averaging 20.5 points and 5.2 assists per game on 45/41/79 shooting splits, many have questioned his fit alongside Murray due to their lack of size and defense.</p><p>Murray, Ingram and Williamson are locked into New Orleans’ starting lineup. The team then has a rising star in Trey Murphy III and a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Herb Jones. Both players should <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-trey-murphy-achieve-all-star-status">factor heavily into the Pelicans’ long-term plans</a>. This has led to speculation that McCollum could shift to a sixth-man role this season.</p><p>However, the Lehigh product <a href="https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/pelicans-practice-report-cj-mccollum-says-its-about-winning-when-it-comes-to-adapting-to-roles" rel="noopener">downplayed the significance </a>of the starting lineup, saying he’ll do whatever is asked of him.</p><p>“At the end of the day, if it’s about winning, that’s what’s important,” he told Jim Eichenhofer. “I don’t know that we have a set (starting) lineup. Things are probably going to change throughout the year to be honest, depending on matchups, who we play (against from night to night), injuries. There are so many things that go into a season that allow it to change and unfold. At the end of the day, we have a lot of good players, and the best players are going to play.”</p><p>Head coach Willie Green will reveal his new-look lineup when the Pelicans open the regular season at home against the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 23.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pelicans star CJ McCollum’s exciting admission ahead of 12th season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pelicans-news-cj-mccollum-reacts-to-possibility-of-bench-role');   ga('set', 'title', 'CJ McCollum reacts to possibility of Pelicans bench role');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/0CJ-McCollum-reacts-to-possibility-of-bench-role0.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>CJ McCollum reacts to possibility of Pelicans bench role</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-03T10:49:50-07:00">October 3rd, 10:49am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-03T10:49:50-07:00">October 3rd, 10:49am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum <a href="https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/pelicans-practice-report-cj-mccollum-says-its-about-winning-when-it-comes-to-adapting-to-roles" rel="noopener">addressed questions regarding his role</a> for the upcoming <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-new-orleans-shots-2024-25-season">2024-25 NBA season</a> during the team’s Media Day, responding with a team-first mentality. At 33 years old, McCollum has spent the majority of his career as a starter, but he remains focused on winning regardless of where he fits in the lineup.</p><p>“At the end of the day, if it’s about winning, that’s what’s important,” McCollum said, downplaying the significance of whether or not he starts. He emphasized that success takes priority over individual roles, reinforcing his willingness to adapt to whatever the team needs.</p><p>McCollum acknowledged the fluid nature of NBA lineups, noting that matchups, injuries, and other factors can influence rotations throughout the season. “I don’t know that we have a set [starting] lineup. Things are probably going to change throughout the year, to be honest, depending on matchups, who we play against from night to night, injuries. There are so many things that go into a season that allow it to change and unfold. At the end of the day, we have a lot of good players, and the best players are going to play,” he explained.</p><h2><b>CJ McCollum addresses potential bench role with the Pelicans</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Willie-Green-talks-with-guard-CJ-McCollum-3-on-a-free-throw-attempt.jpg"><figcaption>© Stephen Lew-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>McCollum’s credentials as a starter are well-established. He’s started in his last 631 NBA games, a streak dating back to the 2015-16 season with the Portland Trail Blazers. Last season, he made 75 starts for the Pelicans and was the team’s third-leading scorer, averaging 20.0 points per game. As New Orleans boasts significant roster depth, head coach Willie Green faces the challenge of managing rotations, but McCollum expressed confidence in the team’s talent. “We have a lot of good players, a lot of guys capable of starting and finishing games,” McCollum said. “For us, it’s about doing whatever it takes to win. I can play a lot of different roles.”</p><p>When asked again about the possibility of coming off the bench, McCollum kept the mood light, jokingly saying, “I’m not going to volunteer [to be a reserve], but if that’s what the coach wants to do, that’s what he wants to do.” He reiterated his focus on the team’s success and his readiness to adjust as needed. “I don’t get paid to coach. I get paid to go out and do what I’m told. That’s the mindset coming into this season.”</p><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/predicting-pelicans-record-after-2024-25-season-schedule-release">New Orleans Pelicans gear up for another campaign</a>, McCollum’s leadership and flexibility remain pivotal to the team’s success. His experience and willingness to adapt reflect his commitment to helping the Pelicans reach their full potential this season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

CJ McCollum reacts to possibility of Pelicans bench role

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/why-pelicans-must-consider-major-cj-mccollum-role-change');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Pelicans must consider major CJ McCollum role change');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Why-Pelicans-must-consider-major-CJ-McCollum-role-change.jpg"></figure><h1>Why Pelicans must consider major CJ McCollum role change</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-08-07T13:34:47-07:00">August 7th, 1:34pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-08-07T13:34:47-07:00">August 7th, 1:34pm</time><address><a>Chris Dodson</a>Chris Dodson is a New Orleans Pelicans beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball in spurts for over a decade. A basketball lifer from the bayou, his gumbo-stirring form matches his elbow jumper celebrations. Fast enough for varsity hoops, tall enough for a soccer scholarship. He has words and will travel, just not on the court.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New Orleans Pelicans are at a pivotal juncture with Zion Williamson entering his prime. With a roster brimming with talent, head coach Willie Green faces the challenge of optimizing rotations to maximize team performance. One strategic move that could pay dividends is convincing veteran guard CJ McCollum to embrace a bench role to help balance out the rotations. Executive Vice President David Griffin convinced McCollum to come to the Crescent City, but there can be no placating the supporting cast.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/3-bad-habits-willie-green-pelicans-must-break-before-next-postseason">Pelicans have some bad habits</a> to break but <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/3-big-cj-mccollum-questions-pelicans-must-address-in-2024-25">McCollum responded well</a> to being challenged professionally last season with an altered shot diet. The front office can do Green a favor and take the hit in explaining to McCollum that this enhances his efficiency for the team’s benefit.</p><p>Give the Pelicans credit for keeping an open mind this summer. Acquiring Dejounte Murray without giving up Brandon Ingram for pennies on the dollar was good business. Now Green has to make it work with an untested, inexperienced frontcourt around Williamson. McCollum’s pride will have to take the hit of being ‘benched’ for a journeyman (Daniel Theis), a European curiosity (Karlo Matkovic), a G-League star (Trey Jemison), or a very raw rookie (Yves Missi).</p><p>So far, the only words from any legitimate league sources regarding new starting lineups are vague at best. “It will be decided during training camp” and that the “gunner role off the bench is one of the toughest” to figure out, both for players and coaches of stacked squads.</p><h2><b>Pelicans need to balance rotations</b></h2><p>McCollum has always taken pride in his professionalism and willingness to do whatever it takes to win. Last season, when challenged to refine his shot selection, McCollum responded with one of the most efficient offensive performances of his career: 42.9% from beyond the arc on a near career-high in volume and a 59.3% True Shooting mark. McCollum’s 12.4 three-pointers per 100 possessions ranked 14th (<a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional?CF=GP*GE*55&amp;PerMode=Per100Possessions&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=FG3A" rel="noopener">min. 55 games played</a>).</p><p>Willie Green’s Pelicans need a more balanced rotation, starting with the starting lineup. The current configuration often leaves the team vulnerable defensively and overly reliant on a few key players for scoring. By moving McCollum to a sixth-man role, the Pelicans can distribute minutes more effectively, ensuring that the second unit remains potent while the starters maintain defensive integrity.</p><p>McCollum’s skill set and experience make him uniquely suited for this role. His ability to create his shots and score in bunches would be invaluable in maintaining offensive pressure when the starters rest. McCollum’s shoot-first approach and 122nd-ranked assist rate would undoubtedly work better against reserve units. The Pelicans might even be able to claim the best Sixth Man of the Year. That advantage works well with multiple All-Stars, an NBA First-Team All-Defense stud, and Trey Murphy III.</p><h2><b>Sixth Man of the Year CJ McCollum sounds nice</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/CJ-McCollum-turns-the-corner-in-a-pick-and-roll-action.jpg"><figcaption>© Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>At this stage of his career, McCollum is more likely to contend for the Sixth Man of the Year award than an All-Star nomination. The past ten winners of the Sixth Man of the Year award highlight the impact and recognition that comes with excelling in this role:</p><ul><li><b>2023-24:</b> Naz Reid (13.5 ppg)</li><li><b>2022-23:</b> Malcolm Brogdon (14.9 ppg)</li><li><b>2021-22:</b> Tyler Herro (20.7 ppg)</li><li><b>2020-21:</b> Jordan Clarkson (18.4 ppg)</li><li><b>2019-20:</b> Montrezl Harrell (18.6 ppg)</li><li><b>2018-19:</b> Lou Williams (20 ppg)</li><li><b>2017-18:</b> Lou Williams (22.6 ppg)</li><li><b>2016-17:</b> Eric Gordon (16.2 ppg)</li><li><b>2015-16:</b> Jamal Crawford (14.2 ppg)</li><li><b>2014-15:</b> Lou Williams (15.5 ppg)</li></ul><p>These past Sixth Man award winners have demonstrated that the role is not only prestigious but also critical to a team’s success. It’s just another way McCollum can continue to showcase his scoring prowess and leadership while potentially adding a trophy to his accolades. Convincing McCollum to accept a bench role is about challenging him to elevate his game and contribute to the Pelicans’ success in a new capacity.</p><p>McCollum’s efficiency last season was a testament to his adaptability. He reduced his mid-range attempts from 7.2 per 75 possessions to 4.9. Three-point quantity jumped from 7.5 to 8.8 per 75 possessions. This shift in shot selection not only boosted scoring efficiency. It also helped bring Willie Green’s offensive game plans closer to the 21st century.</p><p>There will not be any mass substitution strategies from the Pelicans. McCollum would get to hide more on defense by subbing in for Brandon Ingram or Trey Murphy III. McCollum could lead the pick-and-rolls with the frontcourt-by-committee crew once Williamson and Murray get a breather. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-herb-jones-clear-hurdle-universal-respect">The irreplaceable Herb Jones</a> would be a constant running partner. This suggests that a more defensively balanced starting lineup, with McCollum anchoring the second unit, could enhance the team’s overall performance.</p><p>Williamson, Ingram, Murray, Jones, and Murphy III have to find time to make that lineup work. McCollum’s professionalism and adaptability make him the perfect candidate for the transition to a bench role. The Pelicans can benefit as the respected veteran racks up stats and cleans up messes amid the chaos created by substitution patterns.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
20.6	4.0	4.2	0.5	1.2

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
20.6	4.0	4.2	0.5	1.2

CJ McCollum news

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McCollum news