The Warriors recently traded Jordan Poole, Ryan Hollins, a protected 2030 first-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick to the Wizards in exchange for Chris Paul. The Warriors unload Poole’s contract that kicks in at the start of this coming season and get a future Hall of Fame point guard in Chris Paul. Paul is past his prime but is still a good game manager and mid-range shooter. It will be interesting to see how the fast-paced Warriors offense fits with Chris Paul’s methodical pace of play. It was clear the Warriors were prioritizing re-signing Draymond Green over keeping Poole.
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Since Green punched Poole in the pre-season, their relationship hasn’t been the same. It was clear to everyone within that organization and in the NBA that if the Warriors wanted to get back to championship contention, the odds of them keeping both Poole and Green were low. Green’s fit and close relationship with Steph Curry is one you can’t match, and which played a large part in when newly appointed general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr traded Poole. This trade gives Poole a fresh start in a rebuilding situation with the Washington Wizards. Poole will be one of the primary scoring options. He’ll have the ability to be completely free on offense. Poole can fully display his entire skillset, which in turn could potentially lead to an all-star bid soon. Paul is a dynamic pick-and-roll player with Draymond Green and Kevon Looney.
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Paul’s passing ability will also benefit Curry and Thompson. It will allow Curry to play more off the ball where he is most dangerous. Chris Paul will also add more leadership to the Warriors locker room and can help mentor young players such as Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. The Warriors are looking to take advantage of Steph Curry still playing at an extremely prominent level, and adding a guy like Chris Paul made the most sense for this Warriors team. Not only do the Warriors get a high-IQ player, but it also takes Paul off the free-agent market. Let’s not forget that if the Wizards couldn’t find a trade for Paul, they would’ve waived him. The Warriors trading for Paul takes him away from teams that would have loved to have Paul’s services, such as the Lakers, Clippers, and Kings, will challenge Golden State in the Western Conference.
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I expect the Warriors to make a deep playoff run next season and compete for another championship. I also wouldn’t rule out the potential for another trade at some point before next season’s trade deadline. This trade also gives the Warriors cap flexibility because they must decide on Klay Thompson. All signs point to them wanting to extend Klay when his contract expires, and getting Poole’s max contract off their books helps. It is clear after this trade that the Warriors want to keep their core of Curry, Thompson, and Green around for the near future.
