- The first big move made by new Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. Was To Trade Jordan Poole for Chris Paul
- Dunleavy believes it was the best move for the franchise and claimed it was an easy one to make
- He explained that the move would help the Warriors win next season and helps them financially down the road
It was on the 16th of June that Mike Dunleavy Jr. officially took over as General Manager for the Golden State Warriors after Bob Myers had stepped down. Less than a month into his tenure as GM, Dunleavy made one of the more shocking moves in recent NBA history by trading away Jordan Poole as part of a package for Chris Paul.
During a recent appearance on The Jim Rome Show, Dunleavy was asked about the thought process behind it and he explained it was the best move for the franchise (starts at 6:00 mark).
“I think the deal for us accomplishes two things,” Dunleavy said. “One, it helps our team next season, and two, it helps our team down the road financially kind of even some things out for us.
“For us to turn around next year and go back out and feel like we have a chance to compete for a championship with whatever it is, five, six, seven teams, that’s all you can ask for and we feel like Chris enhances that,” Dunleavy added. “So to make the move made a ton of sense, and it helps free up some stuff financially.
“So, for that regard, it was a big swing you could say or whatever, but for me, it was honestly a pretty easy move,” Dunleavy continued. “Hate to see Jordan Poole go, love the guy, I was a big part of drafting him. But it was what is best for the franchise.”
The move certainly helps the Warriors financially down the road. Poole is just entering a four-year $128 million deal from next season, while Paul’s contract is non guaranteed after next season. It helps the Warriors potentially give Klay Thompson a significant deal, as it would have been difficult to have him, Jordan Poole, Draymond Green, and Stephen Curry on large contracts.
Will Paul be better than Poole just for next season, though? That’s hard to say, but he could be a better fit for whatever plan the Warriors might have. Some NBA executives certainly don’t agree with this decision from Dunleavy though, as they can’t understand why this move was made.
An NBA Executive Believes Poole Was Traded Because Of His Poor Postseason Displays
While Dunleavy gave these reasons behind the trade, an NBA executive says the reason why Poole was traded is his poor play in the 2023 playoffs. The guard only averaged 10.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, and 0.8 SPG in the postseason, as the defending champions lost in the Conference Semifinals.
The executive thinks the fact that Poole struggled when it mattered most meant there was a very easy case to trade him. He too mentioned that this trade makes it easier for the Warriors to keep both Thompson and Green beyond next season. He also stated that adding Paul to this mix is a nice experiment to try for a year.
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