Jordan Poole Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Poole's struggles make his contract one of the worst in the NBA

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 2/22/24

Jordan Poole was traded to the Washington Wizards during the summer. His tenure with the Golden State Warriors had grown sour. His altercation with Draymond Green in 2022 rocked the franchise. He also appeared frustrated with his role off the bench, as he played back-up to Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Moving to the Wizards was supposed to liberate Poole.

Instead, his high-volume shooting has failed to pay dividends. His lack of defensive upside has also seriously hindered his new team. As such, ESPN's front office insider Bobby Marks, who was speaking on a recent episode of the "Willard and Dibs" show on 95.7 The Game, said some within the NBA believe Poole's contract is among the worst in the NBA.

"A lot of teams are calling the Jordan Poole contract one of the worst deals in the NBA right now. [The Warriors] caught a break there."

Poole has played in 52 games for the Wizards. He's averaging 15.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 40% from the field and 30% from 3-point range. His perimeter shooting has been a particular disappointment following the potential we've seen from him during his tenure with the Warriors.

The contract Marks is referencing is worth $128 million over four years, with no player or team option. That's a salary of $32 million a season. Poole is clearly underperforming in contrast to his current salary.

Washington has provided Poole with the keys to the offense. He's getting all the touches and shots that he wants. However, he has to start making the most of his current opportunity. There aren't many teams in the NBA in a position to show him the kind of patience he's currently being afforded.

It's worth noting that not every player succeeds during their first season on a new team. Poole's role is vastly different from the one he comprised in the Bay Area. Wizards fans may not see the best from him until next season at the earliest. However, Washington could be tempted to cut ties with the outspoken guard before then. Especially if they feel like he's negatively impacting the locker room.

As such, Poole's current struggles could see him joining a new team in the summer. Washington is a rebuilding team. They may not want to be tied to such a significant salary without the on-court production to show for their expenditure. Poole faces some serious questions about his ability to be a primary offensive talent in the league. Right now, he's failing his first audition.

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