The Golden State Warriors are going to have some big-time, franchise-changing moves to make, not this coming offseason, but in the offseason following the 2022-2023 season. Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins will both be up for new deals.
Poole is going to play next season on a team option which will undoubtedly be picked up. He may get an extension onto his rookie deal, but that’s still unclear. Poole has improved tremendously this season, averaging 17.1 points per game. His efficiency has improved as well.
The Warriors have been building their future for the past few seasons, and the offseason of 2023 may be where it all comes together or falls apart.
He’s truly made himself a cornerstone of the franchise for the foreseeable future.
On top of Poole, the Warriors will have Wiggins to also worry about, and the size of his deal is still relatively unknown. But, it really shouldn’t be anywhere near the amount per year that Minnesota gave him.
Wiggins was a first-time All-Star this season and was actually among the five starters for the Western Conference. He’s one of the best two-way forwards in the conference, averaging 17.3 points per game. He’s shooting 47% from the field this season as well.
The 2023 offseason will have those two headlining it, but there’s one other deal to consider and that’s what the team does with James Wiseman. Next season, the former No. 2 overall pick will make just over $9 million.
Wiseman has yet to play this season and had several key flaws with his game as a rookie. The team option will likely come into play as the potential still seems largely untapped for the 20-year-old center.
However, the offseason after, which will be when the team looks to negotiate a huge deal with Poole, they’ll also have to decide whether or not Wiseman is worth more than $12 million per year as he’ll still have a team option tied to his name.
Those three will help shape the franchise’s future, but how the Warriors respond to those contract needs will be telling for if they have the budget to keep Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in the Bay Area.
Both the five-time All-Star guard and four-time All-Star forward will be needing new deals the offseason following and will likely command one more lofty deal as they exit their respective prime.
All-in-all, the Warriors dynasty is back, and it’ll be the 2023 offseason that will determine how long they stay at the top of the West.