There have been tons of summer rumblings regarding whether or not the New Orleans Pelicans would sell off pieces of their roster. Jordan Poole has been placed firmly in the mix, mostly because he’s on a large, expiring contract. But that’s exactly why the Pelicans should keep him on board and use him as trade bait at the deadline.
By the time the deadline comes around in February, teams are going to be looking for upgrades. Or perhaps they could be looking to shed long-term money. If the Pelicans play their cards right, they could trade Poole in exchange for draft capital. Or, they could trade his deal for one that has more long-term cash and take some picks to make the deal.
The point is, having an expiring contract as valuable as Poole’s – especially if he has somewhat of a bounce-back season – should be very valuable for the Pelicans by the time the deadline rolls around.
Jordan Poole could be perfect trade-deadline piece for Pelicans
It’s no secret that Poole had a rough season last year. His minutes were cut, his efficiency tanked, and all of his counting stats went down. And alongside them, so did his value.
But he’s only 27 years old. It could have just been a bad year, and with his three-point shot (however inconsistent), it feels like a change of scenery could help him bounce back into place.
That said, Poole’s true value to the Pelicans at the deadline will not be his on-court skills. That would provide them with a great bonus, but in reality, it’s the fact that he’s on an expiring contract.
Next year, Poole will be making $34 million. But it will be an expiring $34 million. Any team that makes a deal for Poole will be able to clear up that money the following summer.
So, let’s say Poole is playing well. If a team wants to take a swing and add him to their roster for the end of the season, he could be a nice low-risk, high-reward player for them to target.
Or if a team wants to get rid of some contract that will be on the books for two or three more years, they could send draft capital to the Pelicans and get Poole back in return. That way, they could get off the money earlier.
No matter what way you spin it, Poole could be a great trade chip for the Pelicans to dangle at the deadline. That is why it’s worth it for them to keep him around heading into the season.
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