Trade Proposal Sends Wizards’ Jordan Poole To Clippers

One NBA analyst proposed that the Los Angeles Clippers acquire Jordan Poole from the Washington Wizards. 

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following mock trade between the Clippers and Wizards:

Los Angeles Clippers receive: Jordan Poole

Washington Wizards receive: Norman Powell and P.J. Tucker

In his first season with the Wizards, Poole averaged 17.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks while shooting 41.3% from the field, 32.6% from beyond the arc and 87.7% from the free-throw line. The one-time NBA champion will make $29.7 million next season. 

“Poole looked disastrously bad in the District, but he was hugely helpful in the Golden State’s 2022 title run,” Buckley wrote. “As a 22-year-old seeing significant minutes for the first time, he was third on the team in points (18.5) and assists (4.0), and he maintained those rankings in the playoffs, during which he posted a blistering 50.8/39.1/91.5 shooting slash.

“In the right situation—where he is needed on offense but not solely responsible for an attack’s success—Poole can be an impact contributor. The Paul George-less Clippers need that kind of player if they’re going to make any kind of run with Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.”

Poole has career averages of 16.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Golden State Warriors and Wizards. He helped the Warriors win the 2022 championship against the Boston Celtics in six games. 

The Clippers lost Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency this offseason. They could benefit from adding a scorer and playmaker like Poole, who is only 25 years old. 

The Wizards are in rebuild mode, so they don’t need Poole taking shots away from rookies Alex Sarr and Carlton Carrington.

“As for the Wizards, they might be doing backflips if they could get out of Poole’s contract without incentivizing someone to take it off their hands,” Buckley wrote. “That happens here, though with the caveat of Washington not collecting anything it will keep.”