4 most interesting Washington Wizards storylines for the 2023-24 season
By Cem Yolbulan
How good is Jordan Poole?
Perhaps the biggest factor that will determine the success of the 2023-24 Washington Wizards is Jordan Poole’s performance. How good is he? Did the Golden State Warriors system make him look better than he was, or is he potentially an All-Star level player who will shine running his own offense?
The answer to those questions will determine whether the Wizards are a competitive team that can win over 30 games or one of the worst teams in the league.
There may not be another player in the league whose best-case scenario and worst-case scenario have such a large gap in terms of performance outcomes. It wouldn’t be too surprising if Poole was a borderline All-Star next season. It also wouldn’t be a shock if he topped out as a high-volume, low-efficiency scoring guard who hurts his team defensively and is therefore a sixth man at best.
Which outcome Poole is closer to also has an impact on the future of the Wizards. Poole has a contract worth $128 million for four years, and whether he is a positive value or a negative value on that salary will be massively important for team building. If Poole plays well and rehabs his value, the Wizards can presumably flip him for future assets. If he proves he is not worthy of that contract, Washington might be stuck with him going forward as they likely would not attach draft assets just to move on from him.
It is always exciting when young, promising players get a chance to have their own team and be the primary option. Whether a player can thrive in a new team in an expanded role and become a star is always interesting to watch. The Jordan Poole storyline is no different.