Offseason Report Card: Warriors get two A’s, four B’s and a C for summer moves

3. Traded Jordan Poole for Chris Paul

Traded Jordan Poole, Ryan Rollins, ’27 second and ’30 first-round pick (top-20 protected) to Washington Wizards for Chris Paul

Speaking of blockbuster trades, here is the latest one for the Golden State Warriors. Seemingly seconds after Mike Dunleavy Jr. said the organization would love to have Jordan Poole around for years, they sent him (and his contract) packing to the Washington Wizards, sending enough along with Poole to make the Wizards comfortable taking on his deal, sending back Chris Paul in the process.

Paul never played a second for the Wizards, of course, stopping there only briefly after the Suns moved him in the Bradley Beal trade. He will come to the Warriors and provide a steady hand for the second unit, a more accomplished Shaun Livingston. If he can offer more, that’s great, but given his age and injury history the Warriors aren’t likely relying on him for much more than that.

The loss of Poole will hurt, as his shot-creation and playmaking were genuinely special and an important piece to the Warriors’ success over the past two seasons. Unfortunately, his turnovers and shot selection were an important part of the Dubs’ stumbles too. When you factor in the potential that he could play even worse next season and turn his contract into an absolute albatross, Dunleavy decided to move him now while he still could.

The deal is selling low on Poole, but that doesn’t mean it was a mistake. The first is well-insulated, and a healthy Paul helps the Warriors without taking things off the table; Poole helped and hurt at extreme levels. It will be a nice capstone to Paul’s career if he can win a title before retiring, and he has a very real chance with the Warriors this season.

Grade: B+