Can Golden State Warriors afford to pay Jordan Poole?

The Golden State Warriors have found themselves suffering from success. Will Jordan Poole’s emergence push them over the top financially?

This franchise has never been shy to spend money. They pulled off the unthinkable by adding Kevin Durant to an already loaded roster of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green — and have been near the top of the NBA’s spending list for quite some time.

Entering the 2021-22 NBA season, Golden State was $159 million over the luxury tax. With Curry, Thompson, Green and Andrew Wiggins each making more than $30 million a year, it’s a miracle they were able to round out the rest of the roster with quality, cheap contracts.

Much of this has been due to the good fortune of having youthful talent. Poole is still on his rookie contract, the same goes for the two rookies, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. By sprinkling in some veteran minimums like Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica, the Dubs were able to build a sturdy rotation despite being pressed for cap space.

However, managing finances is only going to get more difficult as Poole becomes eligible for a contract extension. With how well the young star has played, it’s hard to imagine Poole is not expecting a massive payday.

Can the Golden State Warriors afford to give Jordan Poole his payday while also maintaining the rest of the talent on this roster?

Brian Windhorst of ESPN suggests Poole will receive $25 million per season. This is a fair price to pay for a 22-year-old who has shown elite offensive potential next to the Splash Brothers. But, it might be too much for the Warriors to bear.

Finding a way to fork over another quarter million a year would be a challenge for Golden State. It’s even more difficult when you factor in the possibility that Wiggins, a first-time All-Star entering his prime at 27 years of age, will also be looking for an extension in a year’s time.

And what about Kuminga? James Wiseman? Moses Moody? Will these three prospects develop into max-contract-worthy players?

The good news is things might thin out for the Warriors in a few seasons. Thompson and Green see the end of their max contracts in 2025. Curry will wrap up his deal two years later. Assuming the three stars are willing to take a pay cut as they officially enter veteran status, the Dubs might be able to transition from one era to another without having to lose any star talent for the sake of saving money.