The Golden State Warriors had to make some sort of summer adjustment after their humiliating second-round playoff defeat. Future plans for Jordan Poole and Draymond Green came up naturally after a punch that sent NBA fans into outrage.
Poole, who had previously agreed to a four-year, $128 million contract extension with Golden State ahead of last season, was ultimately traded. The 24-year-old guard was eventually traded to the Wizards in exchange for Chris Paul, along with two other players and picks.
B@rk13y pic.twitter.com/1A4eeI91oB
— CyrusTheVirus (@CyrusTheVirusP) July 26, 2023
But if the words of Hall of Famer Charles Barkley are any indication, the reasons the Warriors are cutting ties with Poole may go beyond his unbridgeable conflicts with Green. While on the golf course, Barkley spoke with NBC Sports Bay Area and made it clear that Jordan Poole was “hated” by major Warriors players, making a deal with the Washington Wizards necessary.
“Yeah, they hated Jordan Poole,” Barkley said bluntly. “They really hated Jordan Poole. That’s the number one thing I said to myself is they really hated Jordan Poole.” Barkley went on to say that this is a brand-new start for Poole. The 2022 NBA Champion now has an opportunity to build new relationships and to prove himself on the court.
Was Draymond Green’s friction with Jordan Poole one of the reasons for his trade?
Fans were struck by who Poole was traded for rather than the fact that he was traded at all. JP, one of the best young shooters in the league, ought to have chosen a more expensive package. Instead, the Dubs chose Chris Paul, who is 38 years old.
The Warriors must take some responsibility for how they handled the situation and for letting Poole leave for such a pitiful sum. Draymond Green, however, might be the one most to blame for the outcome of the Poole scenario.
Footage of Draymond Green punching Jordan Poole released by @TMZ_Sports pic.twitter.com/9qkCF005oE
— Pickswise (@Pickswise) October 7, 2022
The young guard was generally viewed positively by the Warriors organization, according to NBC Sports Bay Area. This had no impact on the outcome though. It was rather difficult to imagine Green and Poole sticking on Golden State’s roster for another year.
Nonetheless, Charles Barkley believes this is a wonderful opportunity for the former Warriors guard to hit the reset button. He also sees it as a chance for JP to hone his skills in a place where he won’t be in the spotlight too much. This deal may ultimately benefit all parties involved if Barkley is correct. Hopefully, Poole can make a fresh start in Washington.