The Golden State Warriors are going all in now. After a tumultuous season that started with Draymond Green punching Jordan Poole after the guard signed a huge contract extension, Poole is now headed to Washington in exchange for Chris Paul. Washington is also receiving Ryan Rollins, a 2030 first-round pick, and two second-round picks in the deal.
Warriors Flip Poole for Chris Paul
ESPN Sources: The Washington Wizards are finalizing a deal to send Chris Paul to the Golden State Warriors for a package that includes Jordan Poole and future draft assets. pic.twitter.com/kpNkhqFicp
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2023
From the moment Poole signed his $140 million extension last summer, things went downhill for Golden State. The defending champions struggled all season, just missing the Play-In Tournament as the sixth seed in the West. Their postseason was plagued with immaturity and an inability to be effective without Stephen Curry on the floor.
Poole in particular had an abysmal playoff outing, scoring just 10.3 points per game on 34.1 percent from the field and 25.4 percent from three-point range. In their 2022 championship run, he scored 17 points per game on 50 percent and 39.1 percent, respectively.
On top of this, Poole was not considered a great defender either. His combination of cold shooting and poor decision-making alongside his below-average defense made him unplayable for Steve Kerr.
When you look at his 2023 postseason, it’s hard to justify his $27 million salary next season as his extension kicks in. With Green as a free agent now and Klay Thompson set to become one next summer, Golden State made a move that saves them money in the future.
How the Money Works
Paul’s cap hit for next year is set at around $30 million, $15 million of which has been covered by Phoenix by cutting him before the June 28 deadline. Nonetheless, he counts for $30 million against the cap for Golden State. Well, how are they saving money if Poole costs $27 million and Paul costs $30 million?
Poole’s salary increases every year until 2027 when it hits $34 million. Paul will be off the books for Golden State by the end of 2025 where he could either be retired or resign for cheaper as he turns 40. With Green most likely having a new contract (should they resign him) and Thompson in the same boat next summer, Mike Dunleavy will have two years of flexibility once Paul’s deal is over.
Contending in the Meantime
Golden State will not waive Chris Paul and is looking forward to partnering with the star to make a championship run, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 22, 2023
Dunleavy has already stated that the organization does not intend to flip Paul. Curry and Paul have gone head-to-head for the past 10 years and have had some heated moments. How does this work?
All indications point to Paul coming off the bench and heading a second unit that needs a leader. However, Kerr has been known to institute a “death lineup” at the end of games that includes the team’s five best guys and shifts Green to center. Pre-Durant, it was Curry-Thompson-Iguodala–Barnes-Green, with Durant, it was Curry-Thompson-Durant-Iguodala-Green. In its most recent title run, it became Curry-Poole-Thompson-Wiggins-Green and it’s easy to see Paul sliding into the Poole spot.
Last Chances and New Opportunities
You have to think Paul will embrace this opportunity as his last, and probably best, chance to win a championship. He’s joining a group that has done this before, and as weird as it sounds, Paul has a chance to learn from this squad.
At 38, Paul has only reached the Finals and Conference finals once despite playing on great teams. His body is also cannot deal with the grueling 82-game schedule starting every night. This is a chance for Paul to take a small step back, be a potential sixth man of the year candidate and show up for the Warriors in the moments that matter, not meaningless games in January.
On the other hand, Washington has finally launched their rebuild after trading Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis in the past week, leaving 22-year-old Deni Avdija as the team’s longest-tenured player. This means Poole can do whatever he wants on the court until they start gearing up to compete again. He can be the best player on a team looking for an alpha and maybe even become an All-Star.
Next Moves for the Warriors
Despite adding Paul, Golden State still needs to add some depth. It’s possible to see the team get Donte Divencenzo to opt-in for a sign and trade along with some picks. They could go after someone like Gary Trent Jr., Robert Covington, and other three and D players to bolster the second unit.
Golden State will also hit the free-agent market, but they won’t have much flexibility without the mid-level exception. They could try to convince guys like Torrey Craig, Naz Reid, Jeff Green, or Andre Drummond to take the veteran minimum to compete for a championship.
Golden State’s core looks a little different now. However, there’s no doubt this team is gunning for another title run in 2024.
