Last season
The Warriors put up a decent fight but couldn’t pull off the championship double, falling to the Lakers in a second-round, all-California playoff series. In the first round, they were pushed to the seven-game limit by the Kings and it took a 50-piece from Stephen Curry to save them. Those were enough dropped hints that Golden State wasn’t built to repeat. One reason was the drastic drop-off by Poole.
His efficiency turned to vapor and by the second round, he was a psychological mess, finally benched to save him and the Warriors from further embarrassment. Also, it didn’t help that Andrew Wiggins’ season was interrupted late because of personal issues. Curry was once again stellar, with the third-highest scoring average of his career (29.4), but Klay Thompson was inconsistent and couldn’t make shots against the Lakers in the playoffs. Golden State, in the end, was no threat to defend its title.
Summer summary
A few years ago the Warriors tried a strategy — incorporate young players into the championship core in an attempt to win both now and later. Well, they’ve suddenly made a hasty pivot because that blueprint blew up in their faces.
The youngsters drafted during this time — James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and Poole — suddenly don’t represent the present-day Warriors. Wiseman was dealt midway through last season — a somewhat embarrassing admission that using the No. 2 pick on him was a mistake — and Poole was pushed out the door following a turbulent season.
The Poole trade to the Wizards was especially startling because he was a key member of the 2021-22 championship team and was given a rich four-year extension as a reward. But the Warriors’ patience with Poole, hoping he’d mature on and off the court, ran out quicker than expected. The first clue was when Draymond Green punched him during preseason. Apparently, Poole said something to Green that caused problems, and shortly after, Poole landed on the floor.
He was ostensibly affected by the punch, considering his performance was a disappointment thereafter. His shot selection was insufferable and his defense was spotty. This was not the same player who replaced an injured Thompson in the lineup and averaged 20.8 points as a starter the previous season.
Something had to be done, and Mike Dunleavy did it just days after replacing Bob Myers as general manager. (Myers left the club essentially by mutual decision — they couldn’t come to terms on a new deal and Myers didn’t seem particularly anxious for one — and Dunleavy was elevated in the front office.)
So Poole was sent packing to Washington for Paul, and the Warriors instantly became smarter and steadier at the guard spot.
Paul had been re-routed through Washington by the Suns, and there was a feeling in Phoenix that the 12-time All-Star was deep into his twilight.
Such is possible; Paul is entering his 19th season after turning 38 last May. He’s also on the last year of his deal and, from a financial standpoint, the Warriors come out ahead by dumping Poole’s $128-million contract.
That said, Paul will come to the Warriors in a different role, at least for him. He isn’t required to handle the ball as much or play as many minutes. How he adjusts to that from an ego standpoint will determine how much better this trade makes the Warriors, considering a team with Curry doesn’t need Paul from a positional aspect.
He’s a clever veteran, though, and the Warriors are hoping to use him to salvage the remaining prime years of Curry (and Draymond and Thompson to a degree). The move perhaps gives Paul another shot at that elusive championship.
The only other order or major business was extending Green for four more years ($100 million), which was designed to keep the original dynasty core together.
That was another example of the Warriors’ philosophy. In the summer of 2023, the old got rewarded and the young got discarded.
