The Golden State Warriors have options on the trade market.
The organization could complete a low-risk trade to help them improve slightly, or go all-in on a high-risk trade that could backfire later.
Blue Man Hoop’s Peter O’Keefe believes the Warriors should choose the latter, as he recently crafted a blockbuster trade idea that would be great for Stephen Curry but horrible for Draymond Green.
“(Jordan) Poole had a career year from a numbers standpoint with the Wizards last season, but they'd clearly seen enough and moved him for the expiring contract of CJ McCollum,” O’Keefe wrote Friday.
“It's a move the (New Orleans) Pelicans may now be regretting, particularly when the 26-year-old has another $34 million left on his deal for next season.”
“A lackluster Warrior offense could now do with a dynamic guard like Poole to provide them with a jolt of scoring, but they knew soon after they signed him that his limitations weren't going to make a $120+ million contract team-friendly at all.”
With the Warriors failing to have a viable No. 3 option next to Curry and Jimmy Butler in the Bay, acquiring Poole would give the Dubs the extra scoring punch they desperately need.
Poole was emerging as a star before the Warriors traded him to the Wizards in 2023, as the elusive and slippery 6-foot-4 guard averaged 20.4 points per game during his final season with the Dubs.
However, poor postseason play (he averaged 10.3 points per game on horrid shooting splits) combined with chemistry issues with Green ultimately resulted in a split.
For reference, Green delivered a forceful punch to Poole’s uncovered face during a 2022 practice, and it’s well-documented that the Warriors haven’t been the same since.
Although Green apologized to Poole in January, it probably wouldn’t be the most brilliant idea to have both veterans in the same locker room moving forward.
It’s too late to go back and correct a franchise-altering mistake like that, which would make it wise for the Warriors to pursue other backcourt assets this season.
More NBA: Bombshell trade news involving Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo is good news for Lakers