NBA Trade Rumors: Predicting how 7 early-season trade whispers will end

NBA Trade Rumor No. 5: Wizards could trade Jordan Poole

Last week, veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein noted how there was a growing belief around the league that it’s more likely that the Washington Wizards view Jordan Poole as a trade piece than a core piece of their future. It was construed as information that could point to the Wizards trading Poole sooner than later. While that may end up being the case, I’m not sure this is something we see this season.

Poole is an interesting prospect that needs reps. That’s what he’s going to get in Washington. However, just because he gets the reps doesn’t mean he’s going to settle in as a key part of the team’s future.

Prediction: Deep down, I think this is common sense. I don’t believe the Wizards view Poole as a foundational piece of their future. I think the move for Poole was a measured risk that they took during the offseason. It was a deal that made sense considering their financial situation. If it worked, it worked. But I don’t imagine they viewed Poole as this blue-chip prospect by any means. He’s probably going to get flipped again before the end of his contract.