After a two-year hiatus from the postseason, the Golden State Warriors climbed to the top of the mountain again this year. They defeated the Boston Celtics in six games in the NBA Finals, giving them four titles in the last eight seasons. A large contingent of people believed this was their most impressive win as it was the weakest roster compared to the others that won a title.
It took a total team effort to get the job done, but two players that stood out the entire season were Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole. Some have labeled Wiggins a bust after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, but he came into his own this season, earning his first All-Star nod.
Wiggins averaged 17.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and one steal in 31.9 minutes per game for the season. He was arguably their most consistent player during the postseason, bringing it on both ends of the court for every game.
Poole was put in a bit of an awkward spot this season. He was a starter when things got going, but he knew that role would eventually change with Klay Thompson’s impending return. Upon Thompson’s return to the lineup, Poole would shift into a bench role, becoming the team’s sixth man once again.
It was something that took a little while to adjust to, but Poole had a breakout 2021-22 season. He averaged career-highs across the board, averaging 18.5 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in 30 minutes per game. He also led the NBA in free throw shooting percentage.
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While his role shrunk a little bit in the postseason, he was just as productive. He averaged 17 points per game on a .508/.391/.915 shooting split with an effective field goal percentage of 60.6, a number usually only approached by big men.
In a perfect world, the Warriors would have Wiggins and Poole on the roster for as long as they wanted to remain with the team. If they could re-sign them both to long-term deals, the team certainly would. However, some difficult decisions are going to have to be made in the coming weeks and months, and one of them could be whether to keep Wiggins or Poole.
Wiggins is entering the final season of his contract as he is set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2023. Jordan Poole is eligible for a rookie extension this summer, and both players are expected to cash in on lucrative deals. Alas, with their books already being very expensive, it could be tough to retain both players.
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Choosing only one won’t be easy, but it is something that ownership and the front office could have to do. They have been preparing for this, as Andrew Wiggins trade rumors have persisted almost since he was acquired from the Timberwolves, as many questioned whether he would be a long-term piece.
His performance on the court has certainly changed their tune, as Wiggins is an integral part of their success. However, if the Warriors had to choose one player to keep, it would likely be Poole.
Poole has flashed some superstar potential and at 23 years old is four years younger than Wiggins is. While Wiggins is closer to the prototypical player that teams want to build rosters around, the Warriors have shown that it is capable to build a sustainable winner around a guard with Stephen Curry.
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Poole can be a long-term replacement for Curry once he is ready to move on. If they were to lose him, there isn’t another player on the roster that could assume that role in the lineup. Should Wiggins move on, the Warriors have some players that can step right into the role and hopefully develop into something similar to Wiggins in Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody.
Golden State is likely banking on that trio, along with James Wiseman, being their next dynasty core as all of them are 23 years of age or younger. Keeping that core together long-term would likely outweigh retaining Andrew Wiggins, which would result in Jordan Poole being the player that would stay should the franchise have to choose between the two.
