Celtics Rumors: Jordan Poole Trade Discussed Before Marcus Smart Dealt to Grizzlies
The Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics reportedly discussed a trade centered on guard Jordan Poole before both teams made separate moves.
According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the two sides had talks regarding Poole, but Boston shifted its focus toward a three-team trade with the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards.
Boston sent guard Marcus Smart to Memphis and received center Kristaps Porziņģis from Washington as part of the trade. Also, guard Tyus Jones went from Memphis to Washington, and draft compensation was involved as well.
Golden State still found a taker for Poole, sending him, a protected 2030 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick to Washington for future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul, who was acquired by the Wizards in a previous trade with the Phoenix Suns for Bradley Beal.
Before the trade that resulted in the loss of Smart, the Celtics were deep in conversations on a three-team deal with the Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski (h/t ESPN's Tim Bontemps).
Boston still would have gotten Porziņģis in the trade, but it would have dealt guard Malcolm Brogdon to L.A. and kept Smart.
ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst subsequently said on Get Up that Brogdon was dealing with a "significant" health issue that prevented the trade from getting done.
Per Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, the Clippers backed out of the trade due to not having enough time to get a physical done. Himmelsbach added that it is unknown if Brogdon will require surgery on a forearm injury suffered during the playoffs.
It is unclear what the Celtics would have had to part with to get Poole, but he would have joined a guard group that included Smart, Brogdon, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard before the Smart trade.
Poole is still just 24 years old, and the 2019 No. 28 overall pick out of Michigan already has an impressive résumé to his credit.
In 2021-22, Poole saw his role in Golden State increase significantly, as he averaged 18.5 points, 4.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.8 three-pointers made in 30 minutes per game. He also averaged 17.0 points, 3.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 three-pointers made in the playoffs, as the Dubs won their fourth NBA championship in eight seasons.
Prior to the following season, the Warriors signed Poole to a four-year, $128 million contract extension.
He went on to average a career-high 20.4 points and 4.5 assists per game to go along with 2.7 rebounds and 2.6 three-pointers made.
Poole struggled come playoff time, though, averaging just 10.3 points per game and shooting 34.1 percent from the field after shooting 50.8 percent during Golden State's previous playoff run.
Despite Poole's offensive ability and potential, he perhaps became a difficult asset to trade because of his contract, which is why the Warriors had to include two draft picks with him in a trade for Paul.
Now, Poole will have the opportunity to be the top player on a Wizards team that is in rebuild mode after trading both Beal and Porziņģis.
As for Boston, things still seemed to work out well, as it is in line to have arguably the best eight-man rotation in the NBA next season with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Porziņģis, White, Brogdon, Pritchard, Al Horford and Robert Williams.
