Warriors Must Consider Trading Jordan Poole This Offseason Amid NBA Rumors

Jordan Poole signed a four-year contract extension worth $140 million with Golden State in October 2022.

Following his fourth season, which saw a career high in points-per-game but diminished numbers in free throw, three-point and field goal percentages, the team could choose to move on from the talented guard, per Tim Kawakami of The Athletic.

"And Poole will have some value around the league," the report stated. "Maybe not as much as he had when he signed the deal, but part of the reason the Warriors paid that price was that they knew Poole would have trade value."

Kawakami's colleagues at The Athletic, Anthony Slater and Shams Charania, believe the Warriors are still hesitant to move Poole because of his young age and potential upside. It is that age and upside, though, that make Poole as valuable as he would be in the trade market.

Age and potential do not necessarily produce grittiness and toughness, something Kawakami reported the team may be looking for to replace Poole, citing the Warriors' play against the Lakers' defensive unit in the Western Conference Semifinals.

"They were missing a 'change-up,' as Curry described it, against the Lakers' two-layer defense, guarding the perimeter and then having Davis sitting in the lane," Kawakami reported. "The Warriors need a scrambler. Maybe they can trade Poole for a scrambler who doesn't make as much money, which would check two boxes."

If that is the case, the question becomes whether Steve Kerr thinks he can coach the toughness into Poole and get him to respond in moments when the Warriors need more from the young competitor.

If not, then Golden State absolutely must do what is necessary to get that element into the locker room and on the floor because stars Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson are not getting any younger.

Add to that Marc Stein's latest on team president and dynasty architect Bob Myers potentially departing and you have a window that is rapidly closing for the most successful franchise of the last decade.

Contract extension or not, youth and upside be damned, the organization must find what it believes it needs in order to make at least one more run at a fifth Larry O'Brien Trophy since 2015.

Unless, that is, the team believes Poole is a talent capable of carrying the Warriors franchise beyond the days of Curry, Green and Thompson. Only then is it not worth exploring trade options for the guard.