Days ago, the Golden State Warriors made what some saw as a head-scratching move when they sent off Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards for future Hall-of-Fame point guard Chris Paul.
The trade has made the Warriors older, when most feel they need to get younger around Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and the recently re-signed Draymond Green.
Poole says that even though he will be some 3,000 miles away, his relationship with Curry and Thompson is still intact, per Anthony Slater.
Jordan Poole: “I can text Steph. I can text Klay. I can call them. Have a conversation. That doesn’t leave. That doesn’t go anywhere. If anything, I just know their plays. The split actions.” pic.twitter.com/bQMV6Xe1bV
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 8, 2023
Until recently, it looked like Golden State was prioritizing Poole over Green.
The two got into a much-publicized fight last October, and a viral video showed Green hitting Poole.
Many felt that incident would hasten the departure of Green, who would ultimately turn down his player option and become a free agent, especially since Poole was given a big four-year contract extension shortly after the incident.
But Poole, who was a key contributor to the Warriors’ fourth championship of the Curry era in 2022, saw his numbers drop this past season.
He went from shooting 44.8 percent overall and 36.4 percent from 3-point range in the 2021-22 campaign to 43.0 percent overall and 33.6 percent from downtown during the 2022-23 season, and he especially struggled during the playoffs this spring.
In Washington, Poole will have the opportunity to spread his wings, as he will be playing for a team that recently traded away Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis.
Perhaps he will prove that Golden State made a big mistake by getting rid of him for the 38-year-old Paul, whose offensive game seems to be in decline.
NEXT:
Draymond Green Has An Impressive Stat Over The Past 10 Seasons
