The New Orleans Pelicans are in a tough spot, and their latest loss to the Detroit Pistons only added to the mounting frustration. Dropping a 112-104 decision, the Pelicans now sit at 10-36, firmly planted at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. But while the loss itself was disappointing, the bigger story continues to revolve around Jordan Poole - and not for the reasons the team hoped when they brought him in.
Poole, once a rising star with the Golden State Warriors and a key contributor to their 2022 title run, has struggled to find his footing in New Orleans. His role has diminished, his minutes have been inconsistent, and on-court production hasn’t matched the expectations that came with his $128 million contract. Against the Pistons, things hit another low point when Poole airballed a three-pointer - and the home crowd let him hear it, booing loudly in a moment that quickly went viral online.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. Poole has faced similar reactions from fans in recent weeks, including during a game in Washington.
And while social media has had its fun with the clips, the reality is a lot more complicated. Poole has shown flashes of the offensive talent that made him such a promising piece in Golden State - just look at his recent highlight-reel, off-hand three-pointer against the Magic that lit up social media.
But those moments have been few and far between.
In 27 appearances this season, Poole is averaging 14.8 points and 3.1 assists per game, shooting 37.3% from the field and 33.8% from deep. Those numbers aren’t disastrous, but they don’t scream “franchise cornerstone” either - especially when paired with defensive struggles and a tendency to disappear in key moments. The inconsistency has led interim head coach James Borrego to scale back Poole’s minutes, opening the door for rookie Jeremiah Fears to get more run and develop on the fly.
For the Pelicans, this creates a dilemma. They invested heavily in Poole, hoping he could be a dynamic scoring option and a long-term piece of their rebuild.
But so far, the results haven’t matched the investment. With the trade deadline approaching, there’s chatter that the front office may look to move him - though moving a contract of that size won’t be easy, especially with his current level of play.
Still, the Pelicans need to find a path forward. Whether that means giving Poole more time and a clearer role to regain his rhythm, or exploring trade options to better align with the team’s long-term vision, something has to give. The talent is there - we’ve seen it before - but unlocking it consistently has proven to be a challenge.
As the season progresses and the pressure mounts, all eyes will be on New Orleans to see how they navigate the Poole situation. Because in a league that moves fast, patience is a luxury few struggling teams can afford.