With the NBA offseason approaching, the Wizards have found most of their core in trade rumors leading up to the NBA draft. Among those are veterans like Marcus Smart and Richaun Holmes, as well as younger pieces like Bilal Coulibaly and Corey Kispert. A new name recently brought up is Jordan Poole, with his resurgent campaign during the season. There would be a few possible moves that Washington could be exploring.
Jordan Poole Could Be Traded After Resurgent Season
It’s been a little quiet in Washington, no doubt. With the draft right around the corner, they could be gearing up for a big deal. There are two main options that the Wizards could explore if they are indeed exploring a Poole trade. Washington could trade him before the draft, or when they feel he’s more valuable in a trade than on the team. Poole averaged a career high in points (20.5), steals (1.3), and three-point percentage (37.8%) this season. Teams would certainly pick up the phone if Washington signaled their interest in trading him.
Option One: Draft Deal
The Wizards certainly took a hit in the draft lottery. However, they have the assets to move up if they would like. Sliding to sixth was bad for sure, but there is a silver lining. Two of the teams that moved up, the Spurs and 76ers, could blame injuries to their star players for their poor season results.
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs could pair Poole with De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama to form an interesting big three. To add to this, Poole has spent time coaching the young core of Washington and could easily pick up the mentorship for the Spurs’ young guys. Stephon Castle and Blake Wesley would benefit vastly from a guy like Poole. Chris Paul (if re-signed) could help teach and expand Poole’s still developing playmaking role.
The Spurs also wouldn’t need to give up too much either. With the exchange of the second pick for the sixth, they wouldn’t have to give up much else. They may be more inclined to wait for a trade, as they have been considered frontrunners in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have the third pick, and while it doesn’t bring in Dylan Harper, the Wizards could still feel that they need to move up. Again, Poole could easily fill in a void the Sixers are lacking in, which is healthy players and scoring. Jared McCain, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George all missed at more than a handful of games due to injury. While Poole did experience some injuries, he played more games than all of these guys listed.
Again, the Sixers would hold more cards in this deal, with the third pick holding more value than the sixth pick. However, with Harper most likely being off the board at pick two, they would probably need to give the Wizards more substance.
Option Two: Trade When Time is Right
Poole showed very unique promise. As a 25-year-old, he has still shown promise to keep growing as a player. He also has the experience in the league to guide younger guys and teach them. After the draft, the team’s roster will begin to be more in focus.
While Poole can certainly be their guard for the future, Bub Carrington and AJ Johnson could also become their guard duo of the future. Poole may have more value being traded, and with the season he had last year, his value could be higher than ever. Poole could be seen as a valuable asset for a team needing a scoring guard with both growing defensive skills and improving playmaking abilities.
There are multiple rumors involving Poole. The Warriors have been seen as likely candidates, with Jonathan Kuminga most likely being the key piece in that deal. The Lakers and Pelicans have also been linked to Poole. Players like Austin Reaves or CJ McCollum have been linked to a possible deal with Washington.
Out of these three, Kuminga would be who the Wizards would have an eye on. He fits the young core, and with the last few games he played in the playoffs, it shows that he has untapped potential in a larger role.
They could trade him either before the season begins or right around the trade deadline. Before the season, the team would have time to mesh. However, trading Poole before the deadline could put pressure on other teams, possibly yielding a few extra picks or a young player.
The Last Word on Poole Trade
At the end of the day, it’s all rumors. While Poole is a high-value player, he is also highly thought of by the Wizards. Washington shouldn’t sell short on Poole. He could be their guard of the future, or increase his value in the next few seasons. That would yield better options for a potential deal. With this in mind, the Wizards hold their cards; just don’t let him walk for no return value.
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