New Orleans Pelicans interim head coach used a brand new starting lineup on the team鈥檚 recent 3-game road trip.
The lineup of Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Saddiq Bey and Derik Queen went 2-1, beating the Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs before losing Tuesday to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The new lineup pushed rookie guard Jeremiah Fears to the bench and has limited聽's playing time.聽聽
Poole 鈥� acquired in the offseason in the CJ McCollum deal 鈥� didn鈥檛 play against the Spurs or Thunder.
It was the first time Poole hadn鈥檛 played when healthy this season. He missed 18 games due to injury in November and December.聽
The sit-outs for the team鈥檚 second-highest paid player () behind Zion Williamson ($39.4 million) come amid reports the Pelicans look to be active in this year鈥檚 NBA trade deadline on Feb. 5.
Borrego was asked about the decision not to play Poole after Thursday鈥檚 practice.
鈥淛ust the lineup,鈥� Borrego said. 鈥淚 felt like this group gives us a chance out there to get after it defensively. I think we are just going to lean into a little bit of size right now and physicality and defense.鈥�
Poole has played in 28 games this season for the Pelicans (12-37). He鈥檚 averaging 14.5 points and 3.1 assists. The guard, now in his seventh NBA season, is only shooting 37% from the field and 34% from 3-point range for New Orleans.
鈥淥bviously, Poole will stay ready and he鈥檒l be ready to go,鈥� Borrego said. "(He was) back at it today in practice and so we expect him to stay ready. You never know when your number is going to get called. Everybody who has stepped in for us this year has made an impact. I expect him to do the same.鈥�
Guard Jordan Hawkins also didn鈥檛 play in the past two games. Borrego said the reason was the same.
The Pelicans host the Memphis Grizzlies Friday at the Smoothie King Center at 6:30 p.m. It's the team's final home game before the NBA trade deadline.聽