Jordan Poole's career has taken a downward spiral since his departure from the Golden State Warriors, and a return to the franchise might be just what the 2022 champion needs to find his footing in the league again.
The prospect of that appears slim right now given Draymond Green's remaining presence on the team, but moving on from the veteran forward could open the door for Poole to return in free agency next year.
Jordan Poole reunion hinges on moving on from Draymond Green
It's hard to envisage Poole and Green becoming teammates again after the events that occurred in training camp of 2022, having undoubtedly played a role in the former's departure from the franchise via trade in 2023.
The pair are facing uncertain futures as they enter the season on expiring contracts. Green only recently re-signed with the Warriors on the one-year, $27.7 million player option that he initially declined to give the front office additional flexibility, and there's already significant speculation on the 36-year-old becoming a trade candidate once eligible after waiving his implied no-trade clause.
Poole, meanwhile, is making $34 million on the final year of the deal he initially signed with Golden State. There's little doubt the New Orleans Pelicans would trade that if they could, and there's even been suggestion from analysts that they should consider an unlikely buyout with the 27-year-old.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst mentioned Poole among a group of free agents the Warriors could consider with their cap space next year, with colleague Anthony Slater referring to the fact Green will also become a free agent.
"Draymond's a free agent too, and that's relevant in the Poole conversation," Slater said on the most recent Hoop Collective podcast.
Moving on from Green, whether via a trade before February's mid-season deadline or by letting him walk in free agency next year, would be a franchise-altering move given his stature and tenure on the team as he enters his 15th season.
Warriors should actually consider a Jordan Poole reunion
As much as the Green-Poole discussion on The Hoop Collective may have been facetious to some degree, Golden State should actually consider a Poole reunion if there's an opportunity next year. Barring a stunning turnaround this season, it's highly likely Poole could be available on the taxpayer mid-level exception or even less, meaning it wouldn't really eat too much into their projected cap space.
Poole's still young enough where you could see him turning things around in the right situation, particularly if it's in a sixth man role making less than $10 million annually, rather than the expectations of being a rising star that earned a four-year, $128 million contract.
As much as the Warriors were right to move on from Poole when they did, there's little doubt they've missed his offensive creativity at times over recent years, including last season where they ranked a lowly 19th on that end of the floor.
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