The future of Golden State Warriors’ guard Jordan Poole is a heavy topic of discussion this offseason, with the 23-year-old coming off a turbulent 2022-23 campaign that concluded in disastrous fashion against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Complicating matters is the fact Poole is set to start a four-year deal worth a guaranteed $123 million, pushing the Warriors to a near untenable situation when it comes to a payroll that’s pushing well over $400 million.
With no cost-cutting plans in place, there remains a high likelihood that Jordan Poole remains at the Golden State Warriors ahead of next season.
Golden State owner Joe Lacob has given no indication that the franchise will make a trade purely to cut salary, according to an article by The Athletic’s Anthony Slater on Monday. Poole isn’t being singled out by the Warriors in trade discussions, but rather they’re open to all potential deals regarding any player outside their leader and superstar Stephen Curry.
"“That could mean Poole is part of a trade if the return package appeals. But Poole is not actively being shopped, there is no edict to cut salary and his side has been given no current indication that his future will be elsewhere”, Slater wrote."
It’s in Golden State’s best interests to maintain that sentiment publicly, even if the opposite were true. If there were any belief in league circles that the Warriors were shopping Poole, then the franchise has lost a significant portion of their bargaining power straightaway.
The same can be said for any other player, or even the fact Slater’s report explicitly states that there’s no need to cut salary right now. If there was a well-known desire to reduce their luxury tax bill, rest assured opposing teams would try and make it difficult by orchestrating a lopsided trade.
That’s the cynical perspective though — that it’s all public propaganda for now. Given the franchise’s constant willingness to spend big, including the confidence in handing Poole a hefty new contract, perhaps we should simply believe what they’re saying — that Poole isn’t going anywhere unless the value in return is overwhelming.
Now on a big contract and with poor playoff form still fresh in the memory, there’s little optimism to suggest that an ‘overwhelming’ offer will be forthcoming. Poole and the Warriors committed to each other for at least the next four seasons, and it might be a case of having to see it through particularly in the short-term.