The Warriors may have a path back to Jordan Poole, and it starts with a deal that is bigger than Poole himself.
Golden State and Poole split more than three years ago, and since then neither side has exactly found the version of success it was chasing. Poole had his best stretch with the Warriors, and the team has felt the absence of his scoring punch. That’s why the idea of a reunion, while still far-fetched, isn’t as absurd as it sounds.
The opening comes from New Orleans. Poole has been in new coach Jahmahl Mosley’s rotation through the Pelicans’ first three games, but the results have been rough: just 18.7 minutes per game and a brutal 16.7% shooting mark.
According to team insider Shamit Dua, Poole is now looking for a way out. He is on an expiring $34 million contract he originally signed with Golden State.
"Jones is not the only veteran whose future in New Orleans is uncertain. Sources say Jordan Poole has told the Pelicans he would be open to opportunities elsewhere. His preference raises a broader question about how many of the team's veterans see their long-term future in New Orleans," Dua wrote.
The contract is the tricky part. Even with the deal expiring, there aren’t many teams likely to jump at it. Golden State, though, has a unique angle because of its own unwanted contract in Kristaps Porzingis, who remains away from the deal with a health issue that could end his career.
Still, the Warriors’ interest would not be centered on Poole alone. New Orleans has other pieces that could matter more, and Yves Missi is one of them. Dua reported that Mike Dunleavy Jr. has already inquired about Missi.
That’s where Poole could become the mechanism rather than the prize. If Golden State is willing to absorb Poole’s contract, that might help facilitate a bigger play for Missi. And if the Warriors pulled it off by December 15, Poole’s contract could still be moved again before the deadline.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported Wednesday that rerouting an acquired player is something the Warriors could consider, pointing to the way they handled veteran guard Dennis Schroder two years ago.
So a Poole reunion remains unlikely. But it’s not impossible, and with the Pelicans now looking like a potential trade partner, it’s at least a door the Warriors can see.
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