Jordan Poole’s night opened with a familiar problem for the Pelicans and ended with an even bigger one: the shot wasn’t there, and the margin for missing it may be shrinking fast.
In Wednesday’s 123-120 loss to the Indiana Pacers, Poole went scoreless from the field, finishing with four points after missing all four of his shots in 15 minutes. He still found ways to contribute, but for a veteran whose main job is to supply offense, the empty shooting line carried real weight.
That matters more because of where Poole stands now. He’s in the final season of his contract, coming off a first year in New Orleans that never fully clicked.
Last season, he averaged 13.4 points while shooting 37.2% from the floor and 33.3% from three. With younger players around him pushing for time, nights like this don’t just sting - they invite questions about how long the Pelicans can wait for his offense to show up.
The preseason had suggested a different possibility. Poole was one of New Orleans’ more productive players in that stretch, averaging 8.8 points in a little more than 16 minutes over four games.
His 28.6% mark from deep wasn’t ideal, but there was enough there to make a case that he could work in a smaller scoring role instead of trying to drive every possession. He looked comfortable playing off others, making quick reads and taking advantage when teammates created openings.
Wednesday was the other version. New Orleans hit just 10 of 30 from beyond the arc, and when possessions stalled, the offense leaned heavily on individual shot creation.
Poole wasn’t asked to carry the whole thing, but the Pelicans do need him to make the attack run cleaner. When that piece disappears, the argument for keeping him on the floor gets thinner.
There are reasons the minutes battle could get tighter, too. Dejounte Murray is already set in the backcourt.
Jeremiah Fears is a young guard the team wants to develop. Bennedict Mathurin brings a younger, cheaper scoring option, and Herb Jones gives the kind of defensive versatility Poole can’t match.
Two players who didn’t get on the floor Wednesday may also enter the conversation soon. Bryce McGowens and Jaron Pierre Jr. both offer different kinds of appeal.
McGowens shot better than 40% from three last season and brings athleticism, defensive activity, and the ability to function without dominating the ball. Pierre flashed in the preseason, including a 12-point showing against Miami when he hit four of six from deep.
He’s still a developmental piece, but that’s exactly the sort of player New Orleans may want to examine.
Neither has claimed Poole’s minutes yet. But they do give Jamahl Mosley options, and Mosley already used 10 players against Indiana, which leaves the door open for more rotation tinkering.
Poole did enough in other areas to keep the performance from becoming a total miss. He made all four free throws, handed out three assists, grabbed two rebounds and turned it over just once. New Orleans was plus-12 with him on the floor, the best plus-minus on the team.
That part matters. He stayed engaged, moved the ball and avoided the kind of mistakes that can sink a bench stint when the jumper isn’t falling. So yes, there was some encouraging evidence that Poole can still help in ways beyond scoring.
But there’s no getting around the larger issue. The Pelicans are trying to develop young talent while also staying competitive, and those goals don’t always point to the same rotation choices. Poole is 27, he’s in a contract year, and his value now depends on what he does next, not what he once did.
New Orleans doesn’t need him to reprise a starring role from Golden State. It needs a reserve who can fit inside the offense, make sound decisions and remain a threat to score.
The preseason hinted that player could still exist. Opening night made it clear the Pelicans have every reason to keep watching closely.
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Pelicans Opener Put One Early Rotation Decision Under The Microscope
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Jamahl Mosley has already framed the position as a center by committee, with the idea being that different matchups may call for different skill sets. That puts Matkovics role squarely in the spotlight, especially after his preseason showing and the shooting he flashed last season, because the Pelicans are clearly weighing more than one path as they decide how to build their rotation. [Read more 🡒]