Jordan Poole: Still out vs. Mavericks

Jordan Poole (quadriceps) is out for Friday's game against the Mavericks. Poole was a major fantasy disappointment last season after being traded to the Wizards from Golden State, where he had averaged 20.4 points and 4.5 assists in 30.0 minutes in 2022-23. With the Wizards, he struggled initially, scoring 20 points only twice in his first 12 games and averaging 16.3 points on 40/31/86 shooting with 3.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 29.4 minutes from October through February, even moving to the bench after the All-Star break. He found his form in March and April, averaging 20.3 points on 44/36/94 shooting, 6.2 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 31.8 minutes across his final 21 appearances. Washington is not projected to improve this season, offering the 25-year-old a chance to lead the offense. He is better suited for points leagues due to potential efficiency issues but has upside in category leagues around pick 100. Poole's 2022-23 season ended disappointingly in the playoffs, leading to his trade for Chris Paul this offseason. He posted 17.0 points and 3.8 assists per game during the Warriors' 2021-22 championship run, earning a four-year, $128 million extension, but averaged only 10.3 points and 3.5 assists in the 2022-23 postseason after an altercation with Draymond Green. In Washington, he is expected to start regularly and be a go-to playmaker alongside Kyle Kuzma. Despite a solid regular season in 2022-23 with career highs of 20.4 points and 4.5 assists, he shot a career-worst 33.6 percent from three and committed a career-high 3.1 turnovers per game. As a former third or fourth option, he is poised for a jump in Year 5 as a No. 1 option. He made a significant impact on the Warriors' title path, emerging as a dynamic rising star, with per-game averages of 18.5 points, 4.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.8 three-pointers on 44.8 percent field goal and 92.5 percent free throw shooting. He was particularly effective during Stephen Curry's 12-game absence, averaging 25.8 points, 6.2 dimes, 5.0 boards, and 4.1 triples. In his second NBA campaign, he increased his scoring from 8.8 to 12.0 points per contest due to improved shooting efficiency (43.2% FG, 35.1% 3P). After a G League stint, he averaged 14.7 points, 2.4 assists, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.3 three-pointers over the final 36 regular-season games. As a rookie, the 28th overall pick from Michigan struggled with turnovers and was limited to a minimal role as a three-point specialist off the bench.