Golden State Warriors impatience may cost them a shot at Damian Lillard

New General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. wasted no time stamping his imprint on the Golden State Warriors last month, making a seismic shift in trading young guard Jordan Poole for 12-time All-Star Chris Paul in a blockbuster draft day trade.

Poole’s future at the franchise was always in jeopardy after a disastrous postseason campaign and his impending four-year, $128 million contract, though the accelerated timing of the trade did catch many off guard.

Has impatience cost the Golden State Warriors a shot of acquiring superstar point-guard Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Warriors’ Poole-for-Paul deal came less than two weeks before a pair of star guards, Damian Lillard and James Harden, made their intentions clear about wanting a move away from the Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers respectively.

Speaking on 95.7 The Game’s Willard and Dibs on Wednesday, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne revealed that Golden State could have been a potential suitor for Lillard had they been willing to wait.

"“They could have waited for Dame…Dame is from the Bay Area. I know he was interested”, Shelburne said. “If he got to the point where he was going to ask for a trade and a list was given (to the Trail Blazers), the Warriors would have been on that list.”"

A talented yet error-ridden player like Poole may have been tempting for Portland to begin a rebuild, but would have also required some combination of Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, and future draft capital.

That package could still be offered with Paul instead of Poole, though it doesn’t hold the same allurement unless the Trail Blazers wish to open up salary cap space — something they’ll struggle to do after just committing a new five-year, $160 million contract to Jerami Grant.

The Warriors’ decision to bring in Paul bore out of their own wish to gain greater financial flexibility over the next 12-24 months. That would dissipate with Lillard who still has four years left on his deal that ends with a mammoth $63.2 million player option in 2026-27.

While Lillard’s deadly three-point shooting could cause destruction alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the defensive question marks would be almost more alarming than they are now with Paul in place.

Still arguably in the prime of his career, a Lillard acquisition would not only plunge Golden State into an even greater financial commitment, but also into an obligation of a full-time three-guard starting lineup.