The New Orleans Pelicans are off to a miserable start, and now one of their more recognizable names has apparently decided he wants out.
After finishing last season at 26-56 and opening this year 0-3, the Pelicans are still searching for traction. That backdrop matters because Jordan Poole has now made it clear he’d rather be somewhere else. According to the latest report, the 27-year-old guard has questions about his long-term future in New Orleans as the team braces for another difficult season.
“Sources say Jordan Poole has told the Pelicans he would be open to opportunities elsewhere,” reported Shamit Dua. “His preference raises a broader question about how many of the team’s veterans see their long-term future in New Orleans. Poole has also recorded more minutes than Jones in the last two contests.”
Poole’s request comes only three games into the season, which tells you plenty about where his head is. He won a title four years ago with the Golden State Warriors, but since being traded, he hasn’t found the same success.
Last season, he appeared in just 39 games. This season, he has put up 7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 16.7% in the first three games.
He’s on a four-year, $128 million deal, so any market for him would be limited. Still, he’s a young sharpshooter with championship experience, and that gives him some trade value. Here are three landing spots that make sense.
Miami Heat
Miami is already sitting at 0-4, and the pressure is starting to mount. The team has been linked to multiple trade targets as it looks for perimeter defense and three-point shooting on the wing. Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins were supposed to help there, but their struggles could push Miami toward a move for Poole.
In this scenario, New Orleans would send Jordan Poole to Miami and receive Nikola Jovic and Klay Thompson. Poole would give the Heat a bench scorer who can space the floor and create a burst with his isolation game and shooting. He’s been through big moments before, and that experience could matter on a team trying to get itself right.
Miami would also get to move on from Nikola Jovic, who has already fallen out of Erik Spoelstra’s rotation. To make the money work, Klay Thompson would be included as well. For the Pelicans, it wouldn’t be a huge haul, but it might be the best return available.
Sacramento Kings
The Kings are another team that could make sense if they decide to shake things up. They’re 0-4, don’t seem to have a clear direction, and could use a jolt.
Poole would at least give them another shooter to work with, especially after the Ben Simmons injury. His scoring ability would add some life off the bench.
In this deal, New Orleans would get Malik Monk and Nique Clifford, while Sacramento would land Poole. The fit in Sacramento could be interesting alongside Zach LaVine, with Poole offering another offensive weapon. He could also help Darius Acuff Jr., the Kings’ rookie, as he continues to develop.
For New Orleans, Monk would be the centerpiece of the return. He’d bring scoring punch and could factor into Sixth Man of the Year conversation.
Clifford, the 24th overall pick in 2025, would add more youth. It would be a modest package, but that’s the kind of return Poole might bring right now.
Chicago Bulls
Chicago’s biggest issue is simple: the shot-making hasn’t been there. Through the first four games, the Bulls are the league’s worst three-point shooting team at 23.8%. Buddy Hield and Isaac Okoro haven’t done much off the bench, and Poole could give them the kind of scoring burst they need.
The proposed deal has New Orleans receiving Isaac Okoro and Buddy Hield, while Chicago gets Poole. He’d bring speed, creativity and the ability to generate his own offense, something the Bulls could use alongside Norman Powell in the backcourt.
Chicago is expected to be active before the deadline, and this kind of move would not require a massive sacrifice. That makes the idea of taking on Poole’s contract more realistic.
On New Orleans’ side, Okoro and Hield would deepen the bench and give the Pelicans more flexibility, both financially and on the floor. Even with a change of scenery, though, it would still be a move built more around improving the margins than fixing the bigger problem.
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