With a 15-41 record at the All-Star break and no control of their own first-round pick, the New Orleans Pelicans face a ton of questions heading into the second half of their season. What type of production will the team get from their two lottery picks? Will Zion Williamson be able to stay healthy? Can James Borrego make a case for being more than just the interim head coach? But no question is bigger than the one pertaining to Jordan Poole and what the rest of his season looks like.
If you remember, right before the trade deadline, it was reported that the Pelicans' decision to remove Poole from the team's rotation was because they wanted to start shopping him. But at a $31.8 million salary this season and $34.0 million next season with shooting splits that look like 37.0 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from three, it makes sense why the team couldn't find a suitor.
Now, with 26 games left in the season, do the Pelicans try to reintegrate Poole with the hope he can raise his trade value for a move this offseason, or do they just continue to have a player making a massive salary rot from the sidelines?
What should the Pelicans do with Jordan Poole?
I don't by any means think Poole is bad at basketball, and I still stand by the thought that bringing him in was a good idea. He was coming off a career year for the Wizards, and this team desperately needed spacing and shot creation, which are his two biggest skills.
However, by taking him out of the rotation just 28 games into his tenure with the team, the front office is basically accepting defeat and admitting that they made a bad move. This may sound like a good idea at face value, but it’s only going to tank his stock more in trade discussions as opposing GMs are given the leverage of asking, "If he's good, why isn't he playing?"
Based on my personal evaluation, if the Pels wanted to move Poole, it would cost them some draft capital. For a team with no picks in the 2026 class, that's not something they can afford to do.
Well, many fans aren't going to be too happy about the harsh reality that is keeping Poole past this season; that's likely the most realistic outcome. So for the rest of this campaign, it would make the most sense to have Poole rejoin the rotation with the hope he can build chemistry and regain some of his scoring touch in order to have a strong 2026-27 season.
If the Pelicans move a guard this summer, it’s far more likely to be Dejounte Murray than Poole. Murray still carries real league-wide value, and as a former All-Star and trusted lead guard, he fits better with competitive timelines. That only further highlights the importance of reintegrating Poole into the rotation now