SAN FRANCISCO — Everything was so peachy when the Warriors opened training camp last September.
Golden State was still basking in the championship glow of the 2022 title and got to reunite with a trip to Japan, playing exhibition games in one of the biggest indoor arenas in the world. At one point during the trip, Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins made a visit to a pet store and played with hedgehogs.
The franchise floated in euphoria and thought about a repeat. The fun energy championed by Steph Curry permeated throughout the entire organization … until Draymond Green suddenly sapped the good vibes with his preseason punch on Jordan Poole.
More than seven months have passed since Green infamously clocked Poole in the head during a team practice, but it still cast a shadow on the entire season. During his end-of-the-season interview with reporters on Tuesday at Chase Center, Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted that some of the “joy” that was a trademark of the team’s culture had vanished in the wake of Draymond’s punch.
“I think there was some of that that was lost this year for sure,” Kerr said. “There's no hiding from it, the incident with Draymond and Jordan at the beginning of the year played a role in that. It's hard for that not to impact a team.”
Aside from the interpersonal drama that comes with such a vicious punch, the Warriors also had to deal with the fallout of the video being leaked to TMZ. It’s the type of thing that can shake the entire foundation of an organization, even one as stable as the Warriors.
Draymond and Poole remain central figures to the team’s decision-making this offseason.
For all that baggage that comes along with Draymond, Kerr still knows that the Warriors need him to be a contender. Draymond holds a $27.6 million player option this year, meaning he could opt-out and seek a more lucrative multiyear deal in free agency. For now, it seems like both sides want to run it back for a 12th season.
“If Draymond is not back, we're not a championship contender,” Kerr said. “We know that. He's that important to winning and to who we are. I absolutely want him back. He's a competitor. He's an incredible defensive player. We can check all those boxes. He and I have built a really special relationship that has run the gamut over the years. We've had our share of run-ins, but we've been through so much, we really care about each other and work together well.”
Poole is about to become the third-highest paid player on the Warriors with a $28.7 million cap hit for 2023-23, as he enters the first year of his four-year, $123 million extension. Poole’s name has been thrown around among sports media and fans as a potential trade chip this offseason, if the Warriors want to shed salary and get below what could be a $500 million player payroll. But Kerr said he still views Poole as a potential franchise building block.
“Absolutely. I called him one of the foundational six at the end of last year, and I still believe that,” Kerr said. “It's important to remember, Jordan did some really good things this year. He had a tough playoff stretch, but he averaged 20 points a game for us. It's hard to average 20 points a game in the NBA.
“He helped us win a lot of games. He helped us win a championship a year ago. He would be the first to admit it wasn't his best season. But that's how these things go. That's how careers go.”
The Foundational Six includes Curry, Draymond, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney and Poole. The 23-year-old guard is still firmly in Kerr’s future plans.
Bu that black cloud from the punch still hasn’t fully dissipated. Heading into next season, Kerr admits the Warriors still have some work to do in the locker room between the veteran core and young wave.
“Anytime some trust is lost, then it makes the process much more difficult, and there was some trust lost,” Kerr said. “We've got this group that has been together for a long time and has earned a lot of trust, and then we've got a lot of young guys who are just trying to find their way in this league. I think those relationships within the organization have to be forged, and it doesn't happen overnight.”
