From NBA insider Grant Fischer in reference to Norman Powell trade

"The Pelicans do happen to be searching for significant upgrades in their quest to rebound into the play-in tournament, sources said, although McCollum would seem to make more sense as a target for New Orleans."

Going off the idea that 1) The Pelicans are indeed making a push for the play-in tournament and 2) they have interest in CJ McCollum as a third star next to Ingram and Zion, this trade brings CJ to the big easy while Portland gets a solid return of Jerami Grant and Josh Hart, and the Pistons get two first-rounders and a young player in Nickiel Alexander-Walker in return for Grant