The New Orleans Pelicans followed up one of their best seasons in franchise history in 2023-24 with one of their worst in 2024-25, finishing with a 21-61 record, the fourth-worst in the NBA last season. Now, with a new look front office and some new faces on the roster, the Pelicans will look to make it back to the postseason in 2026.<\/p>\n
New Orleans’ desire to make the postseason will be pushed due to the fact that they traded away their unprotected 2026 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in the move to draft Derik Queen 13th overall. Looking at this Pelicans roster, it’s a mixed bunch of emerging young talents and veterans, but one recent addition could be the piece they need to get over the hump.<\/p>\n
Jordan Poole ’24-25 bag work pic.twitter.com\/xCgcXc6KSX<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) July 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Moving off the expiring contracts of CJ McCollum and Kelly Olynyk, the Pelicans traded them to the Washington Wizards for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, and a second-rounder they used to draft Micah Peavy.<\/p>\n Looking at Poole’s NBA journey, he only ended up in Washington due to a falling out with the Golden State Warriors, where he was a key member of their 2022 NBA Championship team. However, after getting in an altercation with Draymond Green at a Warriors practice, his time in Golden State appeared numbered.<\/p>\n Every Jordan Poole four-point play in his career pic.twitter.com\/9htIj6qTXm<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 PooleMuse (@PooleMuse) September 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Poole was later dealt to the Wizards in the Chris Paul trade, where he was able to carry a larger role offensively, having a career-best season in 2024-25. Now, joining the Pelicans, he’ll look to play a similar role that McCollum did, but perhaps better.<\/p>\n Looking at his stats last season with the Wizards, Poole averaged 20.5 points, 4.5 assists, and three rebounds per game while shooting 37.8% from beyond the arc. With Jeremiah Fears expected to take time to develop into a consistent scorer, Poole should be the primary scoring option on the perimeter for New Orleans.<\/p>\n Jordan Poole content just dropped <\/p>\n (\ud83d\udcf8: Jordan Jimenez) pic.twitter.com\/v51N6CsTO0<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) August 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Given that Poole played on some bad Wizards teams the last two years, some fans might say the ex-Warriors guard can’t play winning basketball. However, Poole was at his best in wins last season, averaging 23.5 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.1 rebounds with shooting splits of 46.6\/45.8\/89.6. If the Pelicans can get that level of efficiency, things are looking up for them.<\/p>\n Another bonus that could make Poole the X-factor is his health, as he’s appeared in 65 or more games in each of his last four seasons<\/a>. As long as he can stay on the court and put the ball in the basket, Poole should be a quality addition for the Pelicans as they look to make the playoffs in a tough Western Conference next season.<\/p>\n