More than 10 games into the 2023-2024 season, and we’re already seeing some obvious results in the trades and signings that were done during the offseason. One of which is the Jordan Poole effect in D.C. Well, the Washington Wizards had a rough start early in the season and nothing seems to be improving. In their first 13 matches, the Wizards are 2-11, making them the second-worst team in the East, just slightly above the Detroit Pistons. There’s not much expectation with this team, but with a borderline All-Star as their main guy, fans are now wondering – Should the Wizards just trade Jordan Poole as soon as they can?
Jordan Poole is definitely not the guy a franchise should rely on
Poole wanted to be free on the court, and he was granted that wish after the Warriors traded him to the Wizards for Chris Paul. It was definitely a win for Golden State, but it was also a great opportunity for JP.
Jordan Poole has been historically bad to start the season 😳
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24 ) pic.twitter.com/bUFwQi5fTY
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 21, 2023
However, the 24-year-old scoring guard hasn’t really shown that he can lead a team. Last season, he was averaging 20.4 points per game even with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Andrew Wiggins on the floor. Now, he’s only putting up 16.6 PPG on an even worse shooting percentage even though he’s given more chances to score.
Unfortunately, Poole turns out not to be a cornerstone material. Even on a bad team, like the Wizards, he’s not a franchise player and not suitable as the no.1 or even a no.2 option. So far, Jordan Poole has been putting Washington in a predicament where it’s already hard enough to recover given that they’re not that good to begin with. In addition, Poole is heavily overrated just because he had a good run in the last two seasons with the Warriors.
Jordan Poole this season:
6/16 FG vs Toronto (-12)
5/12 FG vs Brooklyn (-22)
6/14 FG vs Charlotte (-17)
3/12 FG vs Charlotte (-5)
8/15 FG vs Philadelphia (-4)
8/14 FG vs Miami (-21)
5/13 FG vs Atlanta (-22)
5/11 FG vs Boston (-29)
8/23 FG vs Memphis (+13)
7/18 FG vs Indiana… pic.twitter.com/lpGVumRwD2— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 14, 2023
So far in the 2023-2024 season, the only thing Poole managed to achieve is to become the player with the worst total plus/minus. Well, this is mainly because of the problems he’s having with his style of play.
Problems with Jordan Poole’s game:
- Inefficient volume scorer
- Immature/overconfident player
- Not the player with the highest IQ on the court
Rumors are circulating online that the Washington Wizards aren’t seeing Jordan Poole as a key piece for the future
This is not to throw shade at Poole, but this is just reality. Although he’s talented and a skilled scorer, Jordan Poole isn’t the guy you want leading a team, at least a rebuilding one. He may have a better career as a sixth man, but as of now, he’s not a Tyrese Haliburton, Tyrese Maxey, or an Anthony Edwards kind of guy. So, should the Wizards just trade him if given the chance? We think so. While he’s obviously not a good fit in Washington, Poole could give his service somewhere else, where he could fit the system as a legitimate scorer.
