A surprising blockbuster trade was reached on Thursday, as the Golden State Warriors sent Jordan Poole, a 2030 first-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick to the Washington Wizards for Chris Paul.
Paul was traded to the Wizards in a deal that sent Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns. Paul is now being sent to the Warriors as they make a move to compete for another title.
With that said, let's break down the Paul-Poole trade for each team.
Golden State Warriors
This was a shocking move for Golden State, given their guard situation. Trading away Poole made sense after a tough postseason run and the drama with Draymond Green early on in the season.
However, trading for one year of Paul and including draft capital is shocking. Paul will be the bench initiator and point guard for Golden State.
He averaged 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 44 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three.
This gives Paul a great chance to win a championship, which he has been unable to accomplish in his career. He will now back up Stephen Curry and be a great passer for a great three-point shooting team.
They did give up a lot, as they traded a talented young guard in Poole and two draft picks for a 38-year-old Paul. However, it is a win-now move and could help them compete for a title next season.
The big question for the Warriors now is can they re-sign Draymond Green? They have a lot of money tied to Curry, Klay Thompson, Paul, and Andrew Wiggins. Green is an integral part of Golden State; losing him would be a big blow.
If Green returns in free agency, this trade will be extremely beneficial and help them be in the mix for the title. However, if they are unable to have the cap room to bring Green back, it would be difficult to see the Warriors making a deep playoff run.
Washington Wizards
This was a fantastic move for Washington. They acquired Paul in the Beal move and flipped him for Poole, who is a young guard on the rise.
Poole will now be the number one option and have a chance to shine. He has been a big offensive piece for Golden State but had to come off the bench behind Curry. Having a team where he can be the primary scorer gives him a a chance to be an elite scorer.
Poole averaged 20.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, shooting 43 percent from the floor and 33.6 percent from behind the arc.
Getting a chance to start and be the star could do wonders for Poole. Washington also acquired Tyus Jones, a great playmaker who can help Poole get more open looks.
It will be exciting to see how Paul and Poole fit into their new roles this season. This is an exciting trade for both teams as Golden State looks to compete for a title while the Wizards try to build a new young core.
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