Joe Dumars reveals what Troy Weaver said to him to convince Pelicans to trade for Jordan Poole

Troy Weaver told Joe Dumars that Jordan Poole, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson ‘can grow together for the next five years’

The Pelicans have never had an elite shot creator to pair with Zion Williamson.

Poole’s ability as a shot creator is going to open up the game for Williamson and both of the Pelicans’ elite wings, Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III.

Poole’s ability to create his own shot is going to force defenders to help off their man, which will lead to open looks for his teammates.

Pelicans’ Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars spoke at the Pelicans preseason press conference and revealed what Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations Troy Weaver, who was with Poole in Washington, said about the 26-year-old.

Dumars said that first he was non-committal on Poole, with Weaver talking him around to the opportunity to make the trade.

“He said, he’s your kind of guy. He said he absolutely is obsessed with basketball. He’s absolutely obsessed with it.

“He loves the game, and he’s in the gym non-stop. So that’s how the initial conversation started.

“And one of the things he kept saying to me was Joe, he’s in alignment with the age of this group here, with Herb and Trey and Zion, these guys are all 25 or 26 years old. They know each other. They can grow together for the next five years.”

Jordan Poole’s career stats and highlights

Poole has played 6 seasons in the NBA, averaging 16.8 points, 3.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 412 regular-season games.

Poole won the 2022 NBA Championship as a member of the Golden State Warriors where he averaged 17.0 points, 3.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 22 games during their playoff run.

After four seasons with the Warriors, Poole was traded to the Washington Wizards where he spent two seasons. Poole was then traded to the Pelicans in June.

Poole made 68 regular-season appearances during the 2024-25 season with the Wizards, averaging 20.5 points, 4.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 29.4 minutes per game. Poole shot 37.8 percent from three-point range on 9.1 attempts per game, both career-high marks for him.