Wizards view Jordan Poole as trade piece, not franchise player – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

In a shocking NBA trade last summer, Jordan Poole was part of the blockbuster deal that had everyone in the league talking. But it seems that this might not be the last major trade involving Poole.

NBA insider Marc Stein, who is also a contributor to NBC Sports Bay Area Warriors, believes that the Washington Wizards see Poole as a valuable asset rather than a franchise player. While discussing whether the Wizards might just be aiming to boost Poole’s trade value or if they consider him a cornerstone player, Stein offered his perspective on the matter.

“My sense, from speaking to various league observers,” Stein said (h/t Inside the Wizards), “is that more believe it is the former rather than the latter.”

While Poole played a significant role in the Warriors’ 2022 NBA championship victory, he was overshadowed by the team’s stars, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Additionally, a preseason altercation with Draymond Green appeared to affect the team’s chemistry last season.

Despite this, Poole has embraced the opportunity to apply the lessons learned from the Warriors’ stars to his new role with the Wizards. In a recent interview with Yahoo! Sports, Poole discussed his transition from being a role player with the Warriors to being a key player alongside new teammate Kyle Kuzma.

“Obviously, I wanted to be in a position to have my own team,” Poole told Yahoo! Sports. “Luckily, I’m able to do that so young, after learning from some of the best.”

However, it seems uncertain if the Wizards share the same perspective, especially since Poole has struggled in his first 13 games with the team. His scoring averages and shooting percentages have fallen below his career averages, raising questions about his fit with the team.

If Poole hopes to lead his own team, he may need to hope for another opportunity elsewhere, should the Wizards decide to trade him.

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