The Golden State Warriors secured Chris Paul’s services via a trade with the Washington Wizards. What are the Warriors’ plans now and how does CP3 fit in with the dubs? The trade in analysis.
For years, Chris Paul fought hot duels with the Golden State Warriors. In 2014, the Point God reigned supreme with the Clippers, the dubs retaliated in 2018 and 2019 when Paul was part of James Harden’s Houston Rockets. Especially the duels between CP3 and Stephen Curry were always hard fought, now the two probably best point guards of their generation play together.
Who would have thought this would ever happen? But that’s the way it is. The Warriors sacrificed Jordan Poole and, unusually for them, even parted with a first-round pick. Here is the deal at a glance.
Warriors getWizards getChris PaulJordan Poole57. Pick (Trayce Jackson-Davis)Ryan Rollins-Patrick Baldwin Jr.-First round pick 2030 (Top 20 protected)-Second round pick 2027
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Chris Paul: The trade from the Warriors’ point of view
First off, this is an intriguing trade on multiple levels. What is the intention of the Warriors here? Is there a belief that Paul will bring this team closer to another championship or was the trade important in getting Jordan Poole out of contract?
The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle, but at the same time there is a good chance that CP3, now 38 years old, can make the Warriors better. The big problem with the dubs was once again the offense without Stephen Curry and the ability to generate good shots. Now, CP3 isn’t a scorer himself, but few are as good at putting his teammates in positions to be successful.
Poole did not succeed in doing this after a strong 2021/22 season last season, his ideas were too fluctuating. Klay Thompson in particular could be the beneficiary, who recently played more with the second unit and could become more efficient again with Paul. At the same time, the question remains as to how Paul fits in with the Warriors’ style.
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Under Steve Kerr, ball movement and read-and-react are in the foreground, while Paul prefers the slow game in the half field with lots of pick’n’rolls and isolations. CP3 can pick up speed, but only did so in small doses in Phoenix. His nickname is not Point God for nothing, because he likes to pull all the strings.
You can see that critically, on the other hand it gives the Warriors a different element and more flexibility – not just on the pitch. The trade also helps Golden State provide financial relief. Last offseason, Poole signed for four more years and a total of $128 million, but was never able to confirm it.
It is pointless to discuss what influence the incident with Draymond Green had on it. However, there is no denying that it was a strain on the team, and the players also spoke about it after the playoff defeat against the Los Angeles Lakers. The trade clarifies that and is another sign that owner Joe Lacob’s plan isn’t working out.
He wanted to simultaneously develop talent while fighting for championships and thus create a seamless transition when the large generation around Curry, Thompson and Green departed. Poole, like James Wiseman, should be one of them, both are gone again, veterans came, for Poole even a first-round pick had to be sacrificed. Trade rumors abound about another youngster, Jonathan Kuminga. Baldwin Jr. and Rollins were last year’s picks, but they didn’t matter and were also dumped in the trade.
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It shows that Golden State is no longer double-tracking, but is fully committed to exploiting Curry’s prime. No money was saved (in the short term) either, but Paul can simply be fired 24/25 without the books being charged, especially if CP3 doesn’t work. His injury history is well known, at the same time the oldie will not have to play as many minutes in Golden State, which can keep him fresh.
But there is another possibility. Did the Warriors only bring in Paul to give him back later in the season? This strategy would not be new, just remember the case of D’Angelo Russell in 2019, which was passed on to Andrew Wiggins after a few months. That’s pie in the sky, but what matters right now is that the Warriors have made their first big decision of the summer and Poole is the first victim of the ongoing financial constraints.
Warriors: All salaries at a glance (in million dollars)
Spieler (Alter)Position23/2424/2525/2626/27Stephen Curry (35)Guard51,955,859,6UFAKlay Thompson (33)Guard43,2UFA–Chris Paul (38)Guard30,830,0***UFA-Draymond Green (33)Forward27,6*UFA–Andrew Wiggins (28)Forward24,326,328,230,2*Gary Payton II (30)Guard8,79,1*UFA-Kevon Looney (27)Center7,58,0***UFA-Jonathan Kuminga (20)Forward6,07,6**RFA-Donte DiVincenzo (26)Guard4,7*UFA–Moses Moody (20)Guard3,95,8**RFA-
* Player option, ** Team option, *** Not guaranteed or only partially guaranteed, UFA = Unrestricted Free Agent, RFA = Restricted Free Agent
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Chris Paul: The Trade as seen by the Wizards
Hooray, the Wizards finally snagged a first rounder, albeit one that’s so protected (top-20) that it’s not really valuable. One can criticize that, in the end the capital city simply didn’t have good cards with a huge Beal contract, a possibly expiring Porzingis deal and CP3, who had no interest in getting involved in Washington.
So the rebuild can begin and with Poole they at least have a good tank commander who will score and throw a lot. Last year the guard couldn’t prove that he was worth $128 million (for four years), but as already mentioned, a situation could work wonders.
Draymond Green has already been unfollowed on Instagram, another small indication that this relationship has been badly damaged since last October. In DC there is now an opportunity to increase its value again and establish itself as a starter.
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But the wizards shouldn’t be finished with that. All you have to do is read the names of the possible guard rotation: Tyus Jones, Monté Morris, Delon Wright, Landry Shamet plus Bilal Coulibaly, freshly drafted in 7th position, but who can also be used on the wing.
Washington Wizards: All contracts for the upcoming season
Spieler (Alter)Position23/2424/2525/2626/27Jordan Poole (23)Guard28,730,933,135,3Tyus Jones (27)Guard14,0UFA–Daniel Gafford (24)Center12,413,414,4UFALandry Shamet (26)Guard10,311,0***11,8**UFAMonté Morris (27)Guard9,8UFA–Delon Wright (31)Guard8,2UFA–Danilo Gallinari (34)Forward6,8UFA Deni Avdija (22)Forward6,3RFA–Johnny Davis (21)Guard5,15,3**6,7**RFACorey Kispert (24)Forward3,75,7**RFA-Mike Muscala (32)Center3,5UFA–Patrick Baldwin Jr. (20)Forward2,32,4**4,4**RFAAnthony Gill (30)Forward2,0UFA–Xavier Cooks (27)Forward1,72,0***2,2**UFARyan Rollins (20)Guard1,72,0***RFA-
* Player option, ** Team option, *** Not guaranteed or only partially guaranteed, UFA = Unrestricted Free Agent, RFA = Restricted Free Agent
2023-06-24 07:13:23
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