Warriors guard Jordan Poole has had an erratic second-round performance against the Lakers. Around the league, his overall postseason play this year has rival executives unsure to what extent Golden State still views the 23-year-old as a foundational piece for the younger core of its roster, writes Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.
Poole inked a four-year extension worth a guaranteed $123MM this past summer. That lucrative new deal will take effect next season.
“I don’t know why the Warriors rushed to overpay him,” an executive told Pincus. “They could have given him the same money this summer. At least then, they’d know what his contract would mean to their situation,” the Eastern Conference executive continued. “He’s earning more than [Andrew] Wiggins, and Wiggins is way more valuable than Poole.”
Pincus wonders if the Warriors may look to offload Poole’s contract and negotiate new long-term deals with veterans Draymond Green, who has a player option for 2023/24, and Klay Thompson, who will be extension-eligible next season.
There’s more out of Golden State:
- Wiggins holds no hard feelings about how his entry into the NBA played out, writes Mark Medina of Sportsnaut. Wiggins, the No. 1 draft pick in 2014, was selected by the Cavaliers before becoming the centerpiece of a trade to the Timberwolves that landed Kevin Love in Cleveland. Lakers All-NBA small forward LeBron James, now Wiggins’ opposition in his Warriors’ ongoing second-round playoff series, went on to appear in four straight NBA Finals alongside Love. “It’s the business side of basketball,” Wiggins said. “People get traded all the time. At the end of the day, they have a ring and I have a ring. It worked out.”
- In a conversation with Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Warriors guard Gary Payton II spoke about his offseason free agency, a challenging injury, and his return to the Warriors at the trade deadline. Payton wanted to re-sign with Golden State, where he had just won a title in 2022, as a free agent, but instead wound up taking a more lucrative three-year, $26.1MM deal with the Trail Blazers. “This is probably like my only one [long-term deal],” Payton said. “You know me, I’m like, ‘Yeah. I ain’t got probably one or two of these left, so I got to take it.'” A core muscle injury temporarily put his trade back to the Warriors in jeopardy, but ultimately Golden State decided to go through with the deal and bring him back. He’s now starting in the team’s second-round playoff series. “It was just a little hill,” Payton said of the injury. “But I feel like last year showed them last season if fully healthy can happen.”
- Payton’s move to the starting lineup, an efficient shooting night inside the arc for Stephen Curry, more proactive offense from Green, and improved play from Poole and Wiggins are credited by Medina in a separate piece as key reasons the Warriors saved their season on Wednesday in a Game 5 home win.
Before game 5:
Zero Curry/Wiggins PNRs
Zero.
I hate Steve Kerr so much man….
You’re crazy
They won last night because it was first time they used a Curry/Wiggins PNR. Interesting that Kerr would prefer to ways to play guys who are clearly cooked like Donte, instead of doing that.
How in world do you hate Steve Kerr? Four titles in six Finals appearances isn’t enough for you?
You’re insane.
You’re free to bandwagon off another team
Interesting to note the Warriors were the runners up for Alex Caruso, the closest to GP2 there is. If they got him, likely none of this mess with Wiseman happens and Kerr would be playing him with the 3 HOFers like he should have. Surrounding Wiseman with the 2-way scrubs and low IQ bench guys was a death sentence for his place on the team. Just never had a fair chance because Kerr is horrible at his job and doesn’t have a clue how to develop anyone. Jackson already had unlocked Curry, Kerr just swooped in on Jackson’s hard work and took all the credit.
Kerr has prevented GSW from winning more rings than they have and that’s a fact too many people refuse to acknowledge as 4-2 is “good enough” for many. But not when you have what Kerr has…
Steve Kerr is a hall of fame coach. You need to accept that you don’t really know how the game works, and make the effort to figure it out.
One day we will see when Jackson gets another chance. Lue out coached Kerr in the finals for sure. Ime did as well. Curry just played his quarter ever in the 4th in game 4 against Boston.
No we will never see Mark Jackson get another coaching job.
So, one of his losses came when both Klay and KD were unable to finish the series, one they almost assuredly win if they’re healthy. That puts the team at five rings, which is the same amount that Pop had with his trio, one ahead of LeBron and one behind the Bulls dynasty. A 5-1 record would also line him up with Pop.
Wiggins was a dud before he got to GS, GP2 was basically out of the league. Would Looney be as effective on another team?
Is he Phil Jackson, no, but to say it because of him the Warriors haven’t won more titles is crazy to me.
It’s weird actively wanting the Lakers to win…
Honestly I only do because of the above poster.
Their fans crying about conspiracy theories certainly don’t help…
So corny.
BRING OUT YOUR BUSTS
BRING OUT YOUR BUSTS
I will keep my top on…
Poole is the ultimate Jeckly and Hines. One day he hits a buzzer beater, the next he’s a buzzard feeder (i.e. he is dead). Feeling really sorry for that franchise…tough look
No one is trading for Poole. Worse contract than MPJ