The Golden State Warriors bid to repeat as champions came to an end in the 2022 postseason. Not only did they lose many key rotational players that summer, but Draymond Green also ended up knocking Poole out cold in practice. The video got leaked and ruined the Warriors’ locker room for the season.
Poole and Green shared an easy season together as teammates before Poole was flipped for Chris Paul. Draymond has taken Poole’s departure to be the time he can address what happened, talking to Patrick Beverley about the punch,
“I don’t just hit people. Dialogue, of course, happens over time and you usually ain’t triggered by something that fast… We know stuff you don’t say amongst men. We know things that you have to stand on.”
"I don't just hit people. Dialogue happens over time and you usually ain't triggered by something that fast… We know stuff you don't say amongst men. We know things that you have to stand on."
Draymond Green on the Jordan Poole incident
(via @PatBevPod)pic.twitter.com/IZo4oz7BdD
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 19, 2023
Poole had allegedly made comments about Grene’s alma mater, and about their financial situations when it became clear Poole was going to fetch more money than Green. Ultimately, no one knows with any certainty what were the dynamics of that relationship outside of Poole, Green, and the Warriors locker room.
Did The Warriors Make The Right Call?
Trading Poole and extending Green was a no-brainer for the Warriors given the years of service the one-club man has had, especially alongside Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry. But given their age, was it right for them to give up on the 23-year-old who can average over 20 points? Perhaps not. But Poole’s playoff disappearances had to have worried the franchise, who think Chris Paul can have a more profound impact.
Poole averaged 20.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists last season, while Green averaged 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists. Even though the stat sheet doesn’t say it, Green has been one of the best defensive stoppers in the league in recent years. He always pushes players on the perimeter while holding his own in the post, making him a very tough matchup.
Whether Green’s difference makes enough of a difference to make the Warriors a top-four seed is something we’ll only see after the season starts.
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