Utah Jazz Receive: G CJ McCollum, 2022 First-Round Pick (No. 8 – LAL), 2024 First-Round Pick (NOP), 2026 First-Round Pick (MIL)

New Orleans Pelicans Receive: G Donovan Mitchell

Here, the Utah Jazz receive a later pick in the upcoming draft, but an additional first-round pick as compensation.

Arguably, that’s a hefty price for the Pelicans to pay here. After all, McCollum, while five years older than Mitchell, is still a quality NBA player. Still, he’s not in Mitchell’s league as a shot creator in 2022.

Plus, there’s a real urgency for the Pelicans to have a successful 2022-23 season. Zion Williamson is already rumored to have a foot out the door. Could a Conference Finals appearance convince him to stay in the Big Easy?

With this deal, the Pelicans at least give themselves an opportunity to find out. A trio of Williamson, Mitchell and Brandon Ingram would rank among the very most talented in the NBA.

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The Pelicans would be a shoo-in for the playoffs: the only question remaining would be how far they’d advance.

If things clicked as well as they possibly could, the sky would be the limit for this core.