The Warriors are rolling again, and that surge has only sharpened the conversation around what Golden State might do next. After beating the New Orleans Pelicans, the team stretched its winning streak to eight straight, brushing off the early skepticism that followed a quiet offseason.
That lack of major movement had people wondering whether Golden State would chase a splashier name, and the rumor mill did exactly that. At the start of the season, the Warriors were linked to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, with ESPN’s Anthony Slater writing, “The Golden State Warriors are planning a pursuit of LeBron James in free agency and Anthony Davis via trade this week, league sources told ESPN's Shams Charania, opening up the flexibility for such a possibility after Draymond Green declined his $27.6 million player option Monday morning,”
Looking ahead, next offseason could open another door for the franchise if more cap space comes into play. One player who already sounds open to walking back through that door is Jordan Poole, the former Warriors guard and NBA champion.
“We won a championship. So it works … to answer your question, definitely.
This is my last year on the deal. I’m a free agent at the end of the season.
So you never really know what’s going to happen,” Poole said.
Poole also made it clear that the Bay Area still carries weight for him. Golden State moved on from him a few seasons ago, sending him to the Washington Wizards.
“Several days after agreeing to send Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for a package including Chris Paul, the Washington Wizards agreed to send the future Hall of Fame point guard to the Golden State Warriors Thursday for Jordan Poole, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski,” ESPN’s Tim Bontemps wrote.
A lot has changed since that 2023 deal, and the idea of a reunion would look different now than it did then. Poole would not be coming in as a starter, especially after Golden State recently signed Brandin Podziemski to a contract extension. But he could still make sense as a bench weapon, giving the second unit another scoring option.
There are also practical reasons the fit could work. Golden State may have meaningful cap flexibility next offseason, particularly if Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler does not return. With Stephen Curry getting older, backcourt depth becomes more valuable by the day.
Poole already knows the system, already knows the standard, and already knows what it feels like to win there. He has said the Bay Area feels like home, and that alone makes him a name worth watching if the Warriors go shopping again. Brandin Williams and other guards could also come off expiring contracts, which only adds to the possibility that Golden State could have the room to explore a reunion.
In Other News...
Warriors Face A Draymond Green Question They Never Expected
Draymond Greens name surfacing in trade chatter is the kind of development the Warriors never really expected to be managing this time of year. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Sacramento Kings have interest in Green ahead of the February mid-season deadline, which immediately turns a familiar Golden State cornerstone into an unexpected talking point as the market starts to take shape.
A deal between the Warriors and Kings would come with plenty of hurdles, from fit to contract considerations, and the idea still feels more like a difficult possibility than a clear path forward. Still, the fact that Green is being discussed at all says plenty about how quickly the deadline can force even the most established teams into uncomfortable territory, and there has been no official trade confirmed. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Injury Situation Just Made This Rockets Test Feel Different
The Warriors are heading into the first stop of a five-game road trip in Houston with plenty of momentum, but also a little more uncertainty than usual. Both Golden State and the Rockets are 8-3, and the matchup already had the feel of an early measuring-stick game before the injury report started to pile up for both sides. The Warriors have won eight straight, while Houston is coming off a win over the Denver Nuggets, so this one arrives with real weight even before the ball goes up.
Will Richard is among the names to watch after being listed as questionable with a left thumb UCL tear, and he is part of a broader list of players on both teams dealing with availability concerns. For Golden State, that adds another layer to a road test that was already going to say plenty about where this group stands early in the season. A strong start has given the Warriors some breathing room, but the kind of game they get in Houston could hinge as much on who is available as on who is playing best. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Look More Right Than Ever On Lauri Markkanen Stance
The Warriors spent part of the 2024 offseason chasing Lauri Markkanen, but they drew a firm line when Utah asked for Brandin Podziemski and other meaningful pieces. Golden State ultimately walked away, and now that choice looks a lot more sensible in hindsight. Markkanens recent non-displaced hand fracture will keep him out for at least a month, and the Jazz have stumbled out of the gate, adding more weight to the idea that the Warriors were right to protect their young guard and their draft capital.
Podziemski has become the kind of player Golden State values, and the clubs reluctance to part with him now reads as more than just caution. Markkanen still has real talent, but his injury history and the uncertainty around his long-term value make the price Utah wanted look steep, especially with the Jazz already in a rough early-season stretch. For the Warriors, the decision to hold onto their assets may not have delivered a headline-grabbing addition, but it has aged like a prudent front-office call. [Read more 🡒]