NBA Notes: Pelicans, Jordan Poole, Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton, Warriors

Pelicans

The Pelicans rewarded Saddiq Bey for his bounce-back season. Now comes the harder question: What do they do with Jordan Poole?

Terry Kimble of NBA on SI argues that New Orleans should end the experiment after one season, and the basketball case is fairly straightforward.

Poole shot 37.2 percent from the field, struggled defensively and eventually fell out of the rotation. His season included nine consecutive DNPs by coach’s decision.

Meanwhile, Dejounte Murray is healthy again, rookie Jeremiah Fears needs developmental minutes and new coach Jamahl Mosley is expected to emphasize defense. None of that creates an obvious role for Poole.

The good news is that his $34 million contract expires after this season. The bad news is that the Pelicans still need to find somebody willing to take it.

That makes Poole potentially useful as matching salary, especially closer to the trade deadline. It does not necessarily make him a desirable player at the moment.

Bey and Poole arrived together in the 2025 trade that sent CJ McCollum to Washington. One played his way into a three-year, $55.5 million extension. The other may have played his way onto the trade block. Translation: Not every package deal produces two keepers.

Pacers

ESPN’s Bobby Marks believes everyone may be overlooking the Pacers.

Given that Indiana won 19 games last season, it’s understandable. Marks’ point is that the team returning this fall looks considerably more like the one that reached the 2025 NBA Finals.

“You have 10 players back from the team that lost to the Thunder in seven games,” Marks said during an appearance on the Setting The Pace podcast, via Pacers on SI. “You’ve added Kelly Oubre Jr., who had a really nice year in Philadelphia.”

The most important return, of course, is Tyrese Haliburton, who missed all of last season.

“When players are out a year, you kind of forget how good they are,” Marks said.

He compared Haliburton’s situation to Kawhi Leonard returning from an injury-shortened season and immediately reminding everyone of his value in Toronto.

Marks even floated the possibility of Indiana jumping from 19 victories to 46. That’s ambitious, particularly in an improved Eastern Conference, but the Pacers aren’t attempting to build a competitive roster from scratch.

They’re bringing back the centerpiece and most of the supporting cast from a Finals team. Maybe 46 wins is optimistic. Treating Indiana like an ordinary 19-win team probably is, too.

Warriors

The Warriors have signed 6-foot-10 forward Jacksen Moni to an Exhibit 10 contract, according to Warriors on SI.

Moni averaged 20.6 points and shot 40.8 percent from three during his final college season at North Dakota State. He spent last season with the Santa Cruz Warriors, averaging 9.2 points and shooting 32.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Golden State also signed Moni to an Exhibit 10 agreement last year before waiving him. A similar outcome is expected this time, with Moni likely returning to Santa Cruz. He would receive a $91,000 bonus if he remains with the G League club for at least 60 days.

Moni is the sixth player to receive an Exhibit 10 contract from the Warriors this offseason, joining Graham Ike, Nick Boyd, Alex Toohey, Chance McMillian and Deivon Smith.