A recent report suggests he could be a piece for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole hasn’t had a great start for the 2023-24 NBA season. He was known as a rising star for the Golden State Warriors for the first several years of his career, but he seems to attract attention for perceived on-the-court follies this season. And earlier this season, it was reported that the Wizards’ front office views him as a trade piece for a future move than as a cornerstone.
But last week, Erik Beaston of Bleacher Report wrote that the Los Angeles Lakers are eyeing teams with potential trade targets, including the Wizards at the trade deadline.
In Beaston’s report, the Wizards are a potential target because of the potential for a fire sale. I think the word “fire sale” is a bit moot, because that already started last year. And coincidentally, the Wizards already gave Rui Hachimura away to the Lakers last season, where he was a cult hero in their postseason run to the Western Conference Finals.
Still, it wouldn’t shock me to see the Wizards make another trade with the Lakers.
First, Kyle Kuzma, who isn’t the focus of this piece, is a former Lakers and is still loved by their fans. But the Wizards are not going to let him go easily and Kuzma has embraced D.C. as well.
So by process of elimination, Poole naturally becomes the target. He is still a very talented guard and could shine with LeBron James. And it isn’t unprecedented to see the Wizards trade players they signed to big contracts after less than one year.
In 2021, the Wizards signed Spencer Dinwiddie to a three year, $60 million contract, only to trade him to the Dallas Mavericks a few months later. Granted, General Manager Will Dawkins didn’t make that signing, but he has been pretty bold in changing the roster since last spring.
Do you feel that Poole could be traded at the deadline, whether to the Lakers or elsewhere? Let us know in the comments below.