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Only a couple of days after Chris Paul was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Washington Wizards, the future Hall of Famer is on the move again. As reported, Paul will be traded to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Jordan Poole, a protected 2030 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick.
Paul spent the last three seasons with the Suns hoping to win his first NBA championship. The Suns were only two wins away from winning it all in the 2021 NBA Finals series against the Milwaukee Bucks but failed short. After the Suns traded for Kevin Durant and still failed in the post season, they decided to make changes. First, they fired head coach Monty Williams and signed Frank Vogel as his replacement.
How Paul left Phoenix and ended up with the Warriors
Paul and the Suns’ front office decided to find a suitor for the point guard and it ended up being the Washington Wizards. Bradley Beal, the Wizards’ top scorer and one of few players in the league with a no-trade clause, decided that it is time to go and agreed on a trade to Phoenix.
The Wizards new president of basketball operations Michael Winger sent Beal, Jordan Goodwin and Isaiah Todd to Phoenix and got Paul, Landry Shamet, first-round pick swaps in 2024, 2026, 2028 and 2030; second-round picks from 2024 through 2028, plus 2030; and cash from the Suns in the deal.
It was obvious that Paul would not be happy to play for the Wizards at his point of his career as his only goal is to play for the championship. The Wizards, who have the 8th pick in tonight NBA Draft, also do not need a veteran point guard in the rebuilding process and they made a move that benefits both them and Paul.
Paul ends up playing for the Warriors, a team that he was often facing in the Playoffs throughout his 18-year NBA career. This move is the first after Mike Dunleavy Jr. replaced Bob Myers as the Warriors general manager. Paul will definitely bring experience and options for the Warriors and it will be interesting to see if Steve Kerr will play Paul and Steph Curry together or Paul will be coming off the bench for the first time in his career. The veteran has played 1,214 regular-season and 149 Playoff games, all of them as a starter.
Another reason why the Warriors decided on this move is the fact that Paul has a $30 million expiring contract, compared with the four years and $140 million left on the extension Poole signed before the start of last season. Poole, who became an excellent scorer with the Warriors but also led the league in turnovers, will have a chance to become an All-Star with the Wizards. He will step in Beal’s place and will be a regular starter who will probably drop more than 25 points per game.
Washington previously traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Boston Celtics in a three team deal that included the Memphis Grizzlies. Kyle Kuzma, who is another player who averaged over 20 points per game last season, has declined his player option and will be an unrestricted free agent.
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