The Golden State Warriors made a surprising move before the 2023 NBA Draft by trading Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards in a salary dump deal while acquiring Chris Paul in return. The deal also sent Ryan Hollins, a 2030 first-round pick (top 20 protection), and a 2027 second-round pick to the Wizards.
Before the Warriors traded Poole to the Wizards, has was almost headed to the Boston Celtics, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. What ultimately transpired for the Celtics was a trade agreement that sent Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis from the Wizards.
“There were also conversations between Golden State and Boston, sources said, about sending Poole to the Celtics, before Boston went forward and traded Marcus Smart in the three-team trade with the Grizzlies that brought Kristaps Porziņģis to the TD Garden,” Fischer wrote.
Poole signed a four-year, $128 million extension with the Warriors in October 2022. The extension kicks in next season. The Michigan product averaged a career-high 20.4 points for the Warriors this past season while shooting 43.0% from the field, 33.6% from beyond the arc and 87.0% from the free-throw line.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics & Washington Wizards Updates
However, Poole wasn’t able to carry over his regular-season success to the 2023 postseason. In 13 playoff games versus the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers, Poole averaged 10.3 points while shooting an inefficient 34.1% overall and 25.4% from 3-point range.
The Warriors, who won the championship last year over the Celtics, lost to the Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals this year in six games, with Poole averaging just 8.3 points in the LA series.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics & Washington Wizards Updates
Golden State veteran Draymond Green punched Poole in the face before the 2022-23 season started. The video was leaked to the public and Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said during his end-of-the-season press conference that the team never truly recovered from the punch.
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