Best Potential Trades for Jordan Poole This Summer

The Golden State Warriors have some major financial and personnel decisions to make this offseason. Most notably, Draymond Green and Donte DiVincenzo have player options that can be exercised. DiVincenzo's option ($4.7M), is likely to be declined considering he played well enough to earn twice that on the open market. Draymond on the other hand is owed a much higher figure, $27.6M.

Draymond and the Warriors are reportedly working on a contract extension which suggests that there is no plan for Green to pick up his option. Warriors' owner Joe Lacob is on record saying that he isn't willing to pay a total bill in the $450-$500 million range which means the Warriors have to shed salary this offseason IF they re-sign Draymond Green to an extension.

The easiest way for the Warriors to keep their core together (Steph, Klay, Draymond, Wiggins, Looney) AND shed meaningful salary is to trade Jordan Poole who is set to make $28.7M next year. There are a few ways the Warriors can approach a Jordan Poole trade:

1. A complete salary dump

Warriors shed $22.2M salary and get Jae'Sean Tate and two 2nd rounders in return

The Houston Rockets are the easiest trade partner in a salary dump trade, as they can absorb all of Jordan Poole's contract. Keep in mind that shedding this much salary, also opens the possibility of re-signing Donte DiVincenzo or using that money for another quality free agent.

Warriors shed $21M salary and get Zach Collins and a top-10 protected 1st rounder

The San Antonio Spurs, just won the Wemby lottery and could use a point guard with championship experience to pair with him. Zach Collins played great for the Spurs towards the end of the season, and the Warriors could use his size, and shooting (37.4% from 3pt-range on 2.4 attempts per game). This deal sheds less salary than the one above, but gives you a player who's a better roster fit.

2. Shed SOME salary and bring back ready-to-contribute talent

Warriors shed $2.7M salary and include PBJ and Ryan Rollins for Gary Harris and Markelle Fultz

This doesn't really ease Joe Lacob's concerns with the luxury tax much, nor does it give the Warriors more size. But it does replace Poole's role and give the Warriors more guard depth. Fultz is coming off a great season and would be a top-tier backup PG, and Gary Harris is a reliable 3&D guard. For this to work, Draymond Green might have to take a slight pay cut.

Warriors shed $6.1M salary and include PBJ for O.G. Anunoby and Otto Porter Jr.

Golden State was rumored to have interest in O.G. Anunoby at the trade deadline, which makes sense because he could give the Warriors another elite defensive wing with respectable shooting and scoring ability. Otto Porter Jr. played just 8 games in 2022-23 and there has already been speculation that the Raptors want to move on. The problem here is that Toronto might be looking to stay under the luxury tax by offloading salary rather than taking on more. There are, fortunately other avenues for them to do so (such as trading Thaddeous Young or Gary Trent Jr.). The other questions this trade presents: Is this enough to get Anunoby when he had such a high price tag at the deadline? If they do pull this off, does Kuminga have any role on this team whatsoever?

3. Package Poole with Kuminga and go after a star/fringe star.

Warriors shed $4.8M salary and include Jonathan Kuminga and Ryan Rollins in exchange for Gary Harris, Wendell Carter Jr. and Cole Anthony

The Warriors not only shed $4.8M in salary, but they also get back an athletic big who can defend, a 3&D player who can lighten Klay's load during the regular season and a solid backup PG who can score. Is Wendell Carter Jr. a good enough rim protector to make this worth parting with Kuminga? If Orlando had won the Wemby sweepstakes then perhaps they would have been more willing to part with their starting center.

Warriors include Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody for Pascal Siakam and a couple of 2nd rounders

Siakam is an all-star with the length and defensive versatility to fit almost anywhere. A lineup of Steph/Klay/Wiggins/Draymond/Siakam has incredible potential, and you still have a bench of Looney, GP2, PBJ (possibly Ty Jerome?) and some vet min signings. This would also likely require a pay cut from Draymond in order to fill out the roster, since they only shed $743k salary.

Warriors include Jonathan Kuminga and PBJ for Kristaps Porzingis and a future 1st

Porzingis had a strong season for the Wizards and would give the Warriors a stretch big and rim protection. Steph/Klay/Wiggins/Draymond/Porzingis would be deadly. Plus you get to keep Moody. Only shedding $1M in salary means that Draymond would again have to take a slight pay cut to keep Joe Lacob happy.

What do you think is the best course of action for the Warriors if they decide to move on from Jordan Poole? What even is his value around the league after a nightmare playoff run?

Trade charts were taken on https://fanspo.com/nba/trade-machine