It long had felt unsustainable for the Warriors to keep both Jordan Poole and Draymond Green on the roster after last season’s training camp incident.
That Poole was the odd man out though isn’t necessarily a referendum on his ability.
The Warriors parted with Poole on Thursday, sending him to the Wizards as part of a deal that will bring Chris Paul to Golden State. Green is a free agent, but the Poole trade only further enhances the likelihood the longtime Warrior will be back. Poole had blossomed into an exciting player in his third season, but Year 4, the final season of his rookie deal, was a step back.
Sure, it might have been doomed from the start after the ordeal with Green. But with Poole set to begin a lucrative four-year extension, the Warriors had to be mindful of when they cashed in on his value.
Justin Grant of the Audacy original podcast “Golden Spaces” said Poole still has a bright future in front of him.
“He’s a young player still getting better,” Grant said. “Jordan Poole is going to be very good. I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes to the Wizards and ends up peaking a little bit higher than Brad (Beal) did. I’m not penciling it in, but I wouldn’t be surprised, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s near 25 (points) a game next season, either. He’s that good of a player, that good of a scorer, offensive player.
“He’s just got a ways to go to learn how to lead a team and be one of those guys that you can rely upon to not make simple mistakes. That comes with time and age, but he’s a championship-level player, he’s shown it already. He’s won a ‘chip.”
Poole should get plenty of opportunities to show star potential in Washington. They’re embarking on a full-fledged rebuild, and at this juncture he’s one of the few potential long-term options on the roster, which will allow for plenty of minutes.
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