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sports Wednesday 9 February 2022
AP sources: Pelicans acquire C.J. McCollum in 7-player trade

By Brett Martel son, but Lillard was at the
AP Sports Writer team's practice facility on
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Monday putting up a few
New Orleans Pelicans have shots.
acquired guard C.J. Mc- Hart this offseason agreed
Collum from the Portland to a three-year extension
Trail Blazers as part of a sev- with New Orleans which is
en-player trade, said two worth $37.9 million and in-
people familiar with the cludes a third-year player
situation. option. He has been a
The Pelicans will also re- popular and productive
ceive forwards Larry Nance role player in New Orleans
Jr. and Tony Snell in the since being traded to New
deal, while the Trail Blazers Orleans during the 2019
get forward Josh Hart, and offseason — along with
guards Tomas Staoransky, forward Brandon Ingram,
Nickeil Alexander-Walker guard Lonzo Ball and two
and Didi Louzada, as well first-round draft picks —
as draft compensation in from the Los Angeles Lak-
the form of a 2022 pro- ers as part of a deal that
tected first round draft paired Anthony Davis with
choice and two future sec- LeBron James on the Lak-
ond-rounders. The people ers.
spoke to The Associated Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum, right, drives against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Ball has since been traded
Press Tuesday on condition Kenrich Williams in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Oklahoma to Chicago. Hart has aver-
City.
of anonymity because the Associated Press aged 13.4 points and 7.8
deal has not been made rebounds this season.
official. needed outside shooting clear if he will be ready to ple-player trade the Blazers Alexander-Walker was one
The trade marks the end of threat at a time when New return this season. have made in advance of of three first-round draft
an era in Portland, where Orleans appears to be on New Orleans is making Thursday's deadline. On Fri- choices the Pelicans made
McCollum has been paired the upswing under first-year less than 33% from 3-point day Portland sent Norman in 2019. He went 17th over-
with Damian Lillard in the coach Willie Green — de- range this season and Powell and Robert Coving- all, after New Orleans had
backcourt since 2013. Port- spite playing this season they are 29th in the league ton to the Los Angeles Clip- taken Williamson first with
land has reached the play- without star forward Zion 3-pointers made. McCol- pers in exchange for Eric their own draft choice and
offs every season since they Williamson. After starting lum has shot no less than Bledsoe, Justise Winslow center Jaxson Hayes eighth
drafted McCollum. How- 1-12, the Pelicans (21-32) 37.5% from beyond the arc and Keon Johnson. That with the first of the two first-
ever, the Blazers struggled entered Tuesday's games every season from deep in move was widely seen as fi- rounders acquired from the
in the postseason, reaching on the heels of a three- every season of his career, nancial, as it put the Blazers Lakers.
the Western Conference fi- game road winning streak while shooting 38.4% over- below the luxury tax thresh- Alexander-Walker has
nals only once while being and occupying the final all for his career. old. struggled to produce con-
eliminated in the first round play-in spot in the Western In 2019, McCollum signed a Lillard, a six-time All-Star, sistently in his first three sea-
five times. Conference. three-year contract exten- has been sidelined since son but has been prolific
The 30-year-old McCollum Williamson, incidentally, sion worth $100 million that the start of the year with in spurts. He is averaging
is averaging 20.5 points, 4.5 has been in Oregon trying runs through the 2023-24 an abdominal injury that 12.8 points this season with
assists and 4.3 rebounds this to rehabilitate from offsea- season. It took effect this required surgery. Like Wil- a season-high of 33 points
season. son surgery to repair his season. liamson, it is unclear when, and a career-high last sea-
He gives the Pelicans a fractured right foot. It is un- This marks the second multi- or if, he will return this sea- son of 37 points.q
Ventura: ‘Natural reaction’ to suspect burly players of PEDs

By RONALD BLUM he said Tuesday. "I think CEO Travis Tygart said the
AP Baseball Writer even when there was test- halt in testing is a concern.
NEW YORK (AP) — Robin ing, somebody showed up Former Mets Daniel Murphy
Ventura understands why big, I think people still ques- and Cliff Floyd also spoke
some people might be sus- tioned that. So I don't see during the virtual news
picious of any players who any reason why that would conference. Murphy, who
appear bulked up when change." Speaking during last played in 2020, was
they report when workouts a news conference called a member of the players'
start following the lockout. by the New York Mets to ruling executive subcom-
Now an assistant coach announce the return of mittee when the union
at Oklahoma State, Ven- Old-Timers Day for the rejected management's
tura was a two-time All-Star first time since 1994, Ven- pandemic-shortened 60-
and a six-time Gold Glove tura said he had not been game schedule two years New York Mets Robin Ventura watches the path of his grand
third baseman from 1989- aware Major League Base- ago. The union filed a still- slam hit off Houston Astros pitcher Jay Powell in the seventh in-
2004. He played through ball and the players' as- pending grievance, claim- ning of a baseball game on May 1, 2001, at Shea Stadium in
the height of the Steroids sociation stopped steroids ing Major League Baseball New York.
Era and the start of drug testing when the collective did not play a season as Associated Press
testing, then managed the bargaining agreement and lengthy as was possible. owners are meeting from in Arizona on Tuesday and
Chicago White Sox from Joint Drug Program expired With spring training work- Tuesday through Thursday have meetings in Florida
2012-16. "I think that would Dec. 1. outs unlikely to start as in Orlando, Florida. Union scheduled for the following
just be a natural reaction," U.S. Anti-Doping Agency scheduled on Feb. 16, lawyers met with players two days. q