NBA draft expert Rafael Barlowe recently reported that Jordan Poole's future in Washington isn't secure. Barlowe said, "Around the league, there’s growing belief that Jordan Poole could be moved, either on draft night or later this summer. That potential shake-up adds another layer to Washington’s draft strategy and could open up a path for a new backcourt face.”
This is intriguing news for the New Orleans Pelicans, who are set to start the 2025-26 season without their All-Star point guard, Dejounte Murray. This gives the Pels every reason to check in with Washington about what they’d want in return for Poole.
Looking at Poole's career
Jordan Poole has had an interesting start to his career, to say the least. The Warriors drafted him 28th overall in 2019. He spent most of his rookie year developing in the G League. Then, by the time his third season came around, he became a staple off the Warriors' bench. Poole's incredible shot creation and clutch scoring were crucial in the Warriors' winning the NBA Finals in 2022.
Shortly after that title run, the infamous Draymond Green punch during practice happened, as Poole was traded to Washington. The first year in Washington was a nightmare for Poole as he was adjusting to being the go-to guy. But this past season was a bounce-back year. He averaged 20.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in just 29.4 minutes a game.
When you're a high-volume scorer like Poole, remaining efficient can be hard. But that wasn’t the case this season. He ranked fifth in threes attempted per game (9.1), yet shot a strong 37.8% from beyond the arc, a mark that put him in conversations as one of the league’s best shooters.
Why trade Poole?
If the Wizards don’t view Poole as their long-term solution at point guard, it makes sense to explore trading him now while his value is high. He’s coming off a career year and will draw plenty of interest on the trade market. That's where the Pelicans can step in.
With Washington very much still in a rebuilding process, they will be looking for draft capital in return for Poole. The Pelicans are stacked in terms of 1st round picks, making them an ideal trade partner for Washington. If the Wizards want to add another lottery pick, the Pels have that with #7. If they want to gamble on Giannis not being with the Bucks, they can do that by asking for the Pels and Bucks pick swap in 2026.
In terms of money, the Wizards would have to be comfortable taking back CJ McCollum, who is owed $64 million over the next two seasons. Taking on CJ wouldn't be the end of the world, as he still holds value on the trade market and could be flipped to a contender
Why it makes sense for New Orleans
For the Pelicans' sake, they have to realize that Dejounte Murray may not return the same player. Tearing your Achilles at 28 is serious, especially for someone who relies heavily on his quick burst and explosiveness. Trading for Poole wouldn’t just fill the Pelicans’ immediate point guard need, but he could also be their long-term answer.
As I mentioned, Poole is one of the association's most elite three-point shooters. He uses a full arsenal of step-backs, fadeaways, and pull-ups to punish defenders. This could be a huge difference maker for the Pels, who struggled mightily from deep in the 2024-25 season.
Even in a world where Murray comes back and is the same player, having a backcourt of Poole and Murray could be extremely exciting and make the Pelicans' offense that much better. We saw in JP's time with the Warriors that he can work both as an off-guard and primary ball handler.
With Jordan Poole now potentially available, he could be exactly the type of move new President of Basketball Operations, Joe Dumars, is looking to make. Adding a dynamic scorer and shot creator of his caliber would unlock a whole new dimension to the Pelicans’ offense. If Dumars wants to make a splash this summer, targeting Poole could be the perfect way to do it.