After falling flat in the 2023 Western Conference playoffs, the Golden State Warriors knew changes had to be made. Already, days before the start of free agency, the Dubs are responsible for one of the summer’s biggest deals so far: a swap between young sharpshooter Jordan Poole and NBA veteran Chris Paul.
Poole struggled to find his shot all throughout the season and it’s no secret that his relationship with the players was compromised thanks to the incident with Draymond Green. Still, losing Poole was big for the Warriors, and 2x MVP Stephen Curry recently admitted that it was tough to say goodbye.
“You hate losing JP. I know it’s not all the way official yet. So I don’t want to talk too much before it is. But that’s the tough part of the business, seeing a young guy come into his own (and then get traded). It’s a great opportunity for him,” Steph said via Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “It’s just you get to know someone like that, build a friendship, build a bond. It’s tough to see him go. But, you know, we’re trying to win next year and CP can help us do that.”
At his best, Jordan was an instant bucket who can go off for 30 or 40 on any given night. He was huge for the Dubs during their 2022 title, but now he’ll have the chance to branch out on his own in D.C. as the leader of a new rebuild.
Are The Warriors Contenders With Chris Paul?
CP obviously isn’t the same player that he used to be, but there’s still a sense he could help the Warriors as a veteran playmaker off the bench. It will not be a seamless transition for anyone, but the Dubs can find a way to make it work.
“The business is crazy. We all know that,” said Steph. “If you asked us six months ago if this was something that could happen, the answer probably would’ve been no just based on where we were. Then you get to the summer and are trying to find ways to get better and put yourself in position to chase another championship. Every team that CP has been on gets better. That’s the most consistent thing on him and who he is and what he brings to the team. Everybody’s going to talk about the age. It’s on us to put that all together and figure out how all the pieces work.”
Of course, Jordan Poole may not be the only player to leave Golden State this offseason. Draymond Green is another guy they could lose under the right circumstances.
But regardless of who stays or goes, Stephen Curry isn’t going to settle for mediocrity. He wants to win, and GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. is doing whatever it takes to keep the Warriors at the top of the food chain.
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