The Memphis Grizzlies couldn’t have imagined a worse start to the season than what we’re seeing right now. They’re 2-9, which is tied for the second-worst record in the NBA. Ja Morant is still 14 games away from returning, so their slow start to the season could doom their playoff chances even after Morant returns. They need to address their win-now capability right now as well as going forward.
The Washington Wizards are the team the Grizzlies are tied with when it comes to record, starting the season 2-9 and looking as bad as many anticipated. The shocker is that Jordan Poole looks completely out of sorts running his team. Given his proven capability within a winning system, the Grizzlies may have the solution to end Poole’s time in Washington early for a free-wheeling scorer.
Trade Details
Washington Wizards Receive: Luke Kennard, Brandon Clarke, 2024 First-Round Pick (PHX), 2026 First-Round Pick (MEM)
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Jordan Poole
Brandon Clarke is expected to be out for this season while Luka Kennard’s pure shooting ability is replaced with a more varied offensive game, which includes on and off-ball creation. The picks may already be expensive, but Poole is a 24-year-old champion who has proven he can average over 20 points and play the secondary scorer role on a winning team.
The Wizards Make A Quick Pivot From Jordan Poole
Jordan Poole has looked entirely uninterested on the court in his short Wizards stint through the first few games of the season. There are clips of him taking ludicrous decisions on the court and even ignoring timeout plays, buying into the theory that he’s a star but without the production to back it up. He’s in a tough spot now and could thrive in a situation where he’s part of a larger unit so his skills can be employed for winning pursuits. The meaningless ball being played in Washington will not unlock the best in Poole.
Acquiring Luke Kennard is mainly a salary swap, as Kennard’s contract has been bouncing around the NBA, and could sit with the Wizards until a contender declares they need a shooter and calls them up. He’s averaging 8.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in a tough start to the season. Brandon Clarke is hurt but was a very utilitarian big man for the Grizzlies last season, averaging 10.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. He’s older than many realize, so the Wizards could be the spot where he returns to full health without having to deal with the pressure of returning and contributing for a title-aspirant like Memphis.
Tyus Jones could continue showing off his stable floor general play as the bonafide point guard without Poole to take up minutes. Kyle Kuzma looks out of place with his high-level play so far this season, even though he’s also prone to bad moments on the court. The Wizards could move him for a decent return, so it’s clear this rebuilding roster still has work to do.
The Memphis Grizzlies Address Scoring Needs
After Morant was ruled out for the first 25 games of the season, the Grizzlies made a move to acquire Marcus Smart to reinforce their defense. However, a Smart and Desmond Bane backcourt was extremely lacking offensively and the Grizzlies are playing unnamed point guards alongside Smart in the backcourt. That problem can be addressed in the interim by adding the scoring punch that Poole can theoretically provide while giving him a system to thrive within.
His poor averages of 16.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists are a momentary blip in what is still a very promising player. Adding him to this contending core would be great. His value in the NBA has taken a big hit since the Draymond Green incident, and playing winning basketball is going to be the best way to move on from it. Poole can start alongside Morant or return to being one of the best sixth men in the league, giving the Grizzlies an extremely versatile guard lineup while employing the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in the frontcourt.
Adding Poole could also arrest their freefall down the standings, as his offensive power right now would be more than enough to transform a Grizzlies squad that has looked entirely uninspired without any real guard play. Smart excels as a defender and Bane as a shooter, so to get an on-ball creator like Poole could unlock the entire roster.
An Unexpected Move That Strengthens Two Franchises
A lot of people have sold their Jordan Poole stock, but it’s insane to give up on a player who’s achieved what he has and shown the talent that he has so early in his career. It’s not looking good in Washington, but the limiting factors there could be plenty. Just getting the ball in your hand and being told to score isn’t the situation where every player thrives, as evidenced by Poole. He also can’t lock in on a losing project, so being moved to Memphis would at least give him an incentive to compete.
Wizards don’t need to hold on to Poole for any reason, and an offer like this should do the deal. It’s unlikely Washington find a comparable offer on the market. In addition, Poole doesn’t look engaged enough in their franchise so it’s best to get this value out of him in a trade than to wait and hope he comes around on being a high-value player without any winning goals for him to go after. He’s coming from the Warriors, and even though he showed some bad habits on the court, he hasn’t competed in years without a winning culture around him.
This deal comes out of nowhere but can lead two franchises somewhere if they make this deal happen.
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