4 Golden State Warriors who shouldn’t return next season

Warriors player #1: Jordan Poole

Fourth-year guard Jordan Poole may be a surprise inclusion on this list, but perhaps he shouldn’t be. When Poole is on, he is a terrific scorer and shot-creator; when he’s not, he may be the most frustrating player in the NBA. That type of feast or famine isn’t uncommon on good teams, and they often have role players who can get hot in any given game, helping their team stay in and even win several games over the course of a season.

The problem is, Poole won’t be paid like a role player any longer, and while he’s helped win them some games, he has also cost the Warriors several games too. Golden State knew what type of player he was when they chose to extend him earlier in the season, even though it caught many by surprise given the luxury tax consequences. However, perhaps the Warriors chose to extend him not only to obviously keep him but to trade him if the right deal came along.

However, perhaps the Warriors chose to extend him not only to obviously keep him but to trade him if the right deal presented itself. The right deal may or may not come along, but a strict new CBA that appears to target teams such as the Warriors might incentivize them to make big roster changes. Curry and Thompson are obviously safe; Wiggins probably is too, while Poole may be much less so.

He is only 23 years old and under contract for the next four seasons. I could see a rebuilding team willing to trade for him and the Warriors being open to it if it meant cheaper rotation players and draft assets. That, of course, remains to be seen, but the Warriors should strongly consider moving Poole this summer.

Ultimately, the Warriors will have some tough decisions to make in free agency if they hope to remain a title contender going forward. It remains to be seen what they will do, but history suggests that they will have a successful summer.