Jordan Poole faces a rotation inflection point after Dejounte Murray’s return
jordan poole has slipped out of New Orleans’ rotation as the Pelicans near full strength, creating a new squeeze on perimeter minutes with Dejounte Murray back in action and Trey Murphy available again.
What happens when Jordan Poole becomes the odd man out in a crowded rotation?
New Orleans is nearing full availability for the first time this season, and that change is reshaping who plays. Dejounte Murray returned after missing the last 13 months while recovering from an Achilles rupture. Trey Murphy appeared Sunday against the LA Clippers for the first time since the All-Star break. Zion Williamson sat out Sunday as a precaution due to an ankle sprain, with an expectation he should be available Tuesday against the Lakers.
The roster context matters because it has tightened the team’s perimeter rotation. Even with assistant coach James Borrego preferring a 10-man rotation, there are not enough minutes for everyone in the final 20 games of the season. In the first game with Murray back and Murphy available, the minutes crunch was visible in the rotation decisions.
On Sunday, Jordan Poole returned to a DNP–Coach’s Decision. The Pelicans started Murray, Herb Jones, Murphy, Saddiq Bey, and DeAndre Jordan. In the competitive portion of the game, the bench group included Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears, Bryce McGowens, Yves Missi, and Karlo Matkovic.
Poole’s role has fluctuated around availability changes. He previously was a healthy scratch for a nine-game stretch before the All-Star break. After Murphy’s injury kept him out for five games following the break, Poole worked his way back into the rotation. But once Murphy was available again, Poole fell back out of the mix.
What if the Pelicans prioritize defense over additional scoring?
The on-court needs New Orleans is trying to solve help explain why this moment is a turning point. With Murray and Murphy both available, the team has more perimeter options, and the coaching staff can more easily choose lineups based on specific priorities rather than simply filling minutes.
Against the Clippers on Sunday, New Orleans did not have difficulty producing points: the Pelicans scored 70 points in the first half and finished with a 118. 0 offensive rating for the game. With that baseline, the immediate pressure is not simply finding additional shot creation; it is balancing the rotation around what the team needs most in competitive minutes.
Within that framework, Poole’s fit becomes more complicated. The roster already includes Murray and Murphy when healthy, and the team’s remaining concerns tilt toward defense. In that context, Poole’s presence can intensify defensive issues when he is on the floor, making it harder for him to win minutes as the rotation tightens.
What happens next as the season winds down and roster decisions loom?
With Williamson expected back soon, the playing-time battle is positioned to become even steeper. The overall dynamic is simple: more healthy players means fewer available minutes, and the Pelicans have shown that Poole is the one losing out as the perimeter group fills back up.
Beyond the immediate rotation, the situation also sets up a consequential offseason question. Poole is on the books for $34 million next season, which is the final year of his contract. The Pelicans would like to move on from him in the offseason, and his expiring contract could be appealing to some teams. At the same time, the contract size complicates any effort to move it without additional value changing hands or another negative asset coming back.
For now, the near-term reality is that New Orleans has signaled its direction in the rotation as it approaches the final stretch of the season. With Murray back, Murphy available, and Williamson nearing a return, Jordan Poole faces an uphill climb to reclaim a consistent role in the competitive minutes that matter most.
