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Why Golden State Warriors should hesitate on trading Jordan Poole

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the New Orleans Pelicans during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on March 03, 2023 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the New Orleans Pelicans during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on March 03, 2023 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Jordan Poole’s future at the Golden State Warriors is bound to be a source of debate this offseason, with the 23-year-old set to begin a new four-year, $140 million contract that he signed in the middle of October last season.

A disappointing playoff campaign has now catapulted Poole’s new deal into one of the worst in the league, providing Golden State with a major conundrum as they seek to balance the highest payroll in the league.

Jordan Poole’s relative youth should force hesitation if the Golden State Warriors consider trading the 23-year-old this offseason.

There’s plenty of reasons why the Warriors may look to deal Poole this offseason — the fact it looks like a horrible deal given his form, to balance a roster that sees them paying over a combined $120+ million to three guards next season, or simply to get some money off a payroll that can’t be sustained by second-round exits.

Yet the fact it looks like such a poor deal may actually be the reason Golden State hesitates on trading Poole. His value has plummeted so far that the Warriors simply aren’t going to get anything meaningful in return, at least not without adding a young talent like Jonathan Kuminga and/or multiple first-round picks.

Has Jordan Poole played his last game at the Golden State Warriors? (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Has Jordan Poole played his last game at the Golden State Warriors? (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

The Warriors signed Poole to a big deal for a reason — he was fourth in the NBA’s Most Improved Player voting for 2021-22, was a key part of Golden State’s run to the championship, and was widely regarded as one of the most offensively talented young guards in the league. That shouldn’t all be thrown out the window less than 12 months on.

Granted, his playoff form was a disaster to the point he was unplayable, but Poole’s regular season wasn’t as bad as people make out. He averaged over 20 points per game and although he was plagued with inconsistency, his best often proved game-winning worthy with two 40+ point games and nine games of 30+.

There has to be some optimism that he can return to the All-Star level player the Warriors envisaged when they signed him in preseason. Most bad contracts emanate from a player deteriorating in form due to age or injury, neither of which applies to Poole who’s 23 and played in all 95 of Golden State’s games this season.

Is there a way he can turn it around? If there is, trading him now at bottom value would be an enormous risk that could come back to haunt the franchise. The broad contrast between his best and worst makes his value hard to judge, but for now it’s at rock bottom given a postseason where he averaged 10.3 points on 34.1% shooting from the floor and 25.4% from three-point range.

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Poole remains a prodigious offensive talent, and he faces a big offseason to rediscover that and improve a non-existent defensive capacity. Will Golden State offer him the opportunity to make that happen in the Bay?

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