The New Orleans Pelicans are suddenly sitting at .500 again, and the latest win did more than even out the record. It also put Jordan Poole’s place on the roster under a brighter spotlight.
New Orleans beat the Utah Jazz 120-113 in overtime on Wednesday, avenging the team that handed the Pelicans their only loss of the season. After opening 0-4, the Pelicans have now won four straight, a run that has given the group a very different feel than the one it carried early in the year.
The lineup decisions told their own story. Yves Missi and Trey Murphy III were out with injuries, while Poole and Dejounte Murray both returned after time away.
Poole had missed the previous three games with an ankle injury and was cleared earlier in the day, but he still ended up as a DNP-coach’s decision. Murray, meanwhile, rejoined the starting five and logged a game-high 44 minutes, finishing with 20 points.
That choice only added to the uncertainty around Poole’s future in New Orleans. He is averaging 16 minutes per game this season, the lowest mark of his career, along with six points per game, also a career low. A week ago, a report said the former first-round pick told the Pelicans he would be “open to opportunities elsewhere,” and Wednesday’s decision to keep him on the bench looked like another sign the team may be willing to go that route.
Poole is on an expiring contract, and his salary this season is more than $30 million. New Orleans brought him in before last season in a trade with the Washington Wizards that also landed Saddiq Bey.
Jamahl Mosley has made it clear what he wants from his rotation: versatility. That has opened the door for players such as Trendon Watford and Bryce McGowens to see meaningful minutes lately. Watford played 20 minutes Wednesday, his most this season, and gave the Pelicans another option with his ability to guard multiple spots.
Poole’s shooting has been a major issue. He has hit only 19% of his shots from the field this year, and the on-court numbers have been rough as well. According to Databallr, New Orleans’ offensive rating is -5.5 worse with Poole in the lineup, and the team’s net rating drops to -6.7 when he’s on the floor.
Even with Bryce McGowens out and Trey Murphy III unavailable, Poole never got into the game Wednesday. That made the message feel even louder.
The Pelicans’ recent surge has been built on defense. Over the four-game winning streak, New Orleans is averaging more than 12 steals per game, the best mark in the league.
That kind of identity fits a coach like Mosley, who has pushed toughness and defensive effort throughout the roster. Poole has never been known for that side of the ball, and the fit has only looked shakier as the season has gone on.
New Orleans had to grind to get past a Jazz team that isn’t playing well, but the Pelicans got it done with defense and grit after a sluggish offensive start. More importantly, they did it without Poole. And at this point, that feels like the clearest sign yet about where things are headed.
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