The Golden State Warriors pulled off arguably the most shocking trade of draft day as they sent Jordan Poole and two future picks to Washington for Chris Paul. The Dubs wanted free from Poole’s long-term contract as they try to contend for a championship now and save money down the road. CP3 is 38 years old, but the 12-time All-Star is an all-time great point guard.
There are questions like how does Paul fit? Can the veteran still play 30-plus minutes every night? Having Stephen Curry and CP3 start in the backcourt will make the Warriors small, but it could allow them to diversify their attack. Paul is a master in the mid-range and one of the best pick and roll ball-handlers of all time. Both are areas Golden State could look to exploit more.
Saving money was important, but there were other factors at play. The Dubs needed to dump someone this offseason to keep their core together. It was Poole, but now what? Golden State has nine players under contract with two draft picks soon to sign. How do they round out their roster?
Moves Warriors should make after acquiring Chris Paul
5. Add a defensive-minded big man
Will Paul come off the bench? Assuming Draymond Green is back in San Francisco, the Warriors entire starting five from last season will return. With Stephen Curry locked in at point guard, head coach Steve Kerr will have to choose between starting two of Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Paul. CP3 wants to win a championship, so convincing him to sacrifice may not be difficult.
Behind their top six, the Dubs are thin. They have shopped Jonathan Kuminga this offseason, but he would be relied upon in a bench unit that could feature Gary Payton II, another player that could be moved to limit their tax bill, and Moses Moody.
Golden State desperately needs a backup big man that is focused on defending at a high level. It could be a four that can shift to play small ball five or more of a combo forward depending on how Kerr wants to attack. With Curry and Paul as an undersized backcourt, the Warriors could lean into small ball, especially in their second unit.
Finding a defensive-minded big man is far from the Golden State Warriors’ only task to complete this offseason.