The New Orleans Pelicans cannot be accused of trying their best to put forward the best basketball possible. Over the last few years, they’ve acquired Dejounte Murray, parted ways with Brandon Ingram, and found some true gems in the draft like Yves Missi and Derik Queen.
Moreover, with results not working in their direction, they were willing to move on from David Griffin. This summer, they made another move.
Jordan Poole Laments Pelicans’ Season So Far
At 4-22, the Pelicans have been the worst team in the league, let alone the Western Conference. While they have a promising building block in the constantly impressive Queen, this season isn’t going the way most people expected.
Among those on the list is Poole, who’s been in NBA purgatory over the last few seasons. After a spectacular start to his career with the Golden State Warriors, where he was a critical piece in their run to the 2022 NBA Championship, chemistry issues paved the way for him to be shipped to the Washington Wizards.
While he had solid years in the nation’s capital, he failed to make any significant noise with a despondent franchise. Finally, it seemed like things could turn for the better with the move to the Pelicans.
However, a quad contusion early in the year forced him to miss a significant chunk of the season. As a result, he has suited up in just seven games all year. That frustration, along with the team’s lack of success, was vividly evident as he spoke to reporters after the game.
“I hated it. I didn’t like it at all, but I couldn’t do anything about it. I was playing injured the first seven games also,” said Poole, making his return against the Portland Trail Blazers. He was the ultimate lucky charm for the Pelicans.
As they dominated their way to a 143-120 victory, Poole had a solid return outing, scoring 22 points in 26 minutes of action. And his focus was now on getting things back on track.
“It’s just good to be back out there. You can’t do anything about an injury, but you can do whatever you can to try to get back,” he made it clear that he was going to try his best to remain healthy the rest of the season.
While their hopes of making a playoff run are likely over already, a complete roster teardown may allow them to build a sustainable future, much like some of the best teams in the league currently.
