Rival team ready to pounce on Golden State Warriors’ Jordan Poole

The Golden State Warriors are preparing for a slew of roster decisions as they seek to retain both their championship core and the young talent they hope will carry the franchise forward.

Near the top of the list is young star Jordan Poole, with the 23-year-old eligible for a contract extension as he enters the fourth and final year of his rookie deal.

While Jordan Poole is under contract for another season, rival teams are already monitoring his situation at the Golden State Warriors.

According to Heavy Sports Sean Deveney, the Orlando Magic are a team poised to make a lucrative offer to Poole should he enter restricted free agency.

"“I’d watch out for the Magic to be ready to make an offer if he’s restricted, knowing there’s a good chance Golden State is not going to match,” one Eastern Conference executive told Heavy Sports."

While the Magic aren’t the current powerhouse the Warriors are, they certainly have a talented young core that may intrigue someone like Poole. Franz Wagner, the number eight overall pick from 2021, had an impressive rookie season, while the franchise is set to build their future around 2022 number one overall pick, Paolo Banchero.

The Magic have some young pieces in place at the point-guard position, but none that are set in stone heading into the future. Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony have shown promise, but question marks remain on whether they project as long-term, starting caliber options. This means the franchise could undoubtedly offer Poole a starting role, an opportunity the Warriors won’t be able to at least in the short term.

Making things more interesting, the Magic’s official Twitter account recently shared photos of Poole working out alongside Banchero with the caption, ‘that SLOW grind’.

Poole took a massive leap in his third season, finishing fourth in Most Improved Player voting as he played a crucial role in the Warriors championship season.