BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 16: Golden State Warriors' Jordan Poole (3) congratulates Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) with seconds left during the fourth quarter of Game 6 of the NBA Finals at TD Garden in Boston, Mass., on Thursday, June 16, 2022. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics 103-90. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
The Warriors’ big trade sending Jordan Poole to Washington in exchange for Chris Paul became official Thursday, and the teams finally announced the deal with social media posts.
The trade also sent 2022 draftees Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Ryan Rollins to the Wizards, in addition to a 2030 first-round pick (top-20 protected) and a 2027 second-rounder.
Stephen Curry took the opportunity to make his own statement on the deal via Instagram Stories. The four-time NBA champion mostly focused on Poole, his backcourt-mate of four years who was a key player in the 2022 title run.
“You’re a champion. You grew up right in front of everybody’s face in terms of that first year, where it was rough, a lot of injuries and just trying to find your way to going to the G League and coming back and helping us finish 15-5 down the stretch of that second year, winning a championship your third year and fighting til the end this past year,” he said.
“So I can’t wait to see you shine in your own situation. Just looking forward to competing, obviously, but being a fan of everything that you’ve become. Good luck to you.”
On the heels of that title, Poole signed a four-year extension just days after the infamous training camp practice punch from Draymond Green that sent the Warriors’ championship defense off course, as Steve Kerr and Green himself have said.
Poole scored a career-high 20.4 points per game last season, but his shooting efficiency dropped across the board and late-game turnovers rankled Warriors fans. Ultimately, his season hit a nadir in the playoffs, when he scored single digits in six of the Warriors’ final eight games, including a zero-point Game 4 loss to the Lakers.
The Warriors traded away that roller-coaster ride (and the potential upside that came with the 24-year-old Poole) for the known quantity of Chris Paul at age 38, signaling a push to prioritize the present over the future.
Curry, in his Instagram video and a Threads post that featured photos of him and Paul, was clearly excited to begin working with his fellow North Carolina native and longtime playoff foe with the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets.
“CP, can’t wait to rock with you, brother,” Curry said. “It’s gonna be different with us on the same side. Let’s get it!”
Originally published at Michael Nowels