Southwest Division Rundown: Poole Out of Rotation, Hawkins on the Block, and Flagg Fighting for the Whistle
The Pelicans are shaking things up, and Jordan Poole is feeling the effects. The veteran guard has now been benched for four straight games, with head coach James Borrego opting for a starting five of Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Saddiq Bey, Zion Williamson, and rookie big man Dereck Queen. That lineup shift pushed rookie point guard Jeremiah Fears to the bench - and left Poole out of the rotation entirely.
Borrego addressed the situation, keeping the message professional but clear: Poole needs to stay ready.
“Obviously, Poole will stay ready and he’ll be ready to go,” Borrego said. “He was back at it today in practice, and so we expect him to stay ready.
You never know when your number is going to get called. Everybody who has stepped in for us this year has made an impact.
I expect him to do the same.”
Poole’s name has been floating around in trade rumors for weeks, and this latest development only adds fuel to the fire. Since arriving in New Orleans via offseason trade from Washington, Poole has struggled to find consistent footing.
His current averages - 25.4 minutes, 14.5 points, and 3.1 assists per game - are his lowest since his second season in the league back in 2020-21. He’s started just six games this year, the fewest of his career.
It’s a surprising turn for a player who, not long ago, was seen as a rising offensive weapon with microwave scoring ability. But with New Orleans pushing for consistency and defensive stability, Poole’s erratic play and defensive lapses may have made him the odd man out - at least for now.
Hawkins Also on the Trade Radar
Jordan Hawkins, another Pelican who’s found himself on the outside looking in, is reportedly the most likely player to be moved ahead of the trade deadline. Hawkins hasn’t seen the floor in the last six games and, like Poole, has fallen out of the rotation at a critical point in the season.
After a promising sophomore campaign where he averaged 10.8 points in 23.6 minutes per game, Hawkins has taken a step back in year three. His numbers have dipped to 4.3 points per game on .320/.301/.778 shooting splits - a steep drop for a player brought in largely for his shooting.
Coming out of UConn, Hawkins was touted as a long-range threat, but he’s hitting just 34.2% of his career three-point attempts. Still, at just 23 years old, there’s a sense around the league that a change of scenery might help him rediscover his rhythm. For teams looking to buy low on a young shooter with upside, Hawkins could be an intriguing deadline target.
Flagg’s Drives, Edwards’ Whistle - A Tale of Two Calls
In Dallas, the Mavericks are growing increasingly vocal about what they see as a lack of respect from officials when it comes to Cooper Flagg’s aggressive drives to the rim. The rookie phenom is attacking the basket 11.9 times per game - the same rate as Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards - but the free throw numbers tell a different story.
Flagg is getting just 1.8 free throw attempts per game on those drives, while Edwards is earning 3.3. That’s a significant gap, and it’s not going unnoticed.
“You just gotta play through it,” Flagg said. “It’s not the first time in my life that I probably haven’t gotten calls and it probably won’t be the last.”
Head coach Jason Kidd, however, wasn’t quite as diplomatic after a tough loss to the Rockets on Saturday. Kidd called out the officiating crew for what he saw as a missed foul on Amen Thompson, and former team owner Mark Cuban echoed those frustrations.
“He’s going to continue to keep going until he hears the whistle,” Kidd said. “There were a lot of fouls missed with this young man.
Maybe they just don’t know his game yet, but that’s who he is. He’s going to continue.
He’s not going to get discouraged.”
The league’s Last Two Minute Report upheld the no-call, but it’s clear Dallas isn’t letting the issue go quietly. Flagg’s relentless rim pressure is a big part of the Mavericks’ offense, and if the whistle doesn’t start coming, expect more noise from the Dallas bench.
Durant to Miss Monday’s Game with Ankle Sprain
Kevin Durant will be sidelined for the Rockets’ upcoming game in Indiana due to a left ankle sprain. He logged 38 minutes in the team’s win over Dallas, finishing with 13 points on 6-of-17 shooting - not his sharpest outing, and now we know why.
This will be Durant’s first missed game due to injury this season, a notable milestone considering his recent history. The Rockets have been leaning heavily on KD as they jockey for playoff position, so even a short absence could have ripple effects across the rotation.
We’ll see how Houston adjusts without their star forward - and whether this is a one-game rest or something more.
Bottom Line: The Southwest Division is anything but quiet as we approach the trade deadline. Poole and Hawkins are watching from the bench as their names swirl in trade talks, Flagg is earning his stripes (but not the whistle), and Durant’s ankle adds a wrinkle to the Rockets’ playoff push. Buckle up - the next few weeks could get interesting.