The Warriors are going to try to extend Jordan Poole's contract this summer.
But unless Golden State arrives with Andrew Wiggins' money, Poole must decline the deal and bet on himself.
For a month and a half, there has been a panic in the Warriors. He was paralyzed in the All-Star Game and has played just as poorly since. On January 10, the Warriors were the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference standings at 30–9. With their loss to the Sons on Wednesday night - which was regarded as a moral victory - the Warriors fell to the No. 4 seed.
No, there hasn't been much to cheer for the Dubs lately, except Poole, who has been brilliant in his and the Warriors' last 18 matches.
With Steph Curry currently sidelined, Poole has emerged as the Warriors' top offensive option. The Michigan Wolverines used to be debated whether he was to be the sixth man or the starter. Now, it is that he would be an All-Star.
Since the 2022 All-Star Game, Poole has averaged 24 points per game -- tied with Curry -- on 48 percent shooting from the field and 43 percent shooting beyond the arc. Add five assists and four rebounds per game and you have the best non-All-Star in the NBA since late February.
The Warriors haven't won much since the All-Star Game, but don't blame Poole. He is proving to be an integral part of the Warriors' present and future as the team tries to take a "parallel path" of winning with the veterans now and developing young talent for the future.
Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and, yes, maybe even James Wiseman?
It has an impressively young core, with Poole being the oldest of the group at the age of 22 (about two years).
And when Drummond Green returns from his post-injury game against the Suns on Wednesday, we've seen plenty of experiential moments from the Warriors' old, banner-raising guard this season.
Klay Thompson is a different player after two and a half years, Green's return to the court was deplorable and a possible foreshadowing of his declining years, Curry not being able to maintain MVP-caliber play into the new year. And got injured again, and Andre Iguodala went missing for months and said he would retire at the end of the season.
"Parallel paths" make a lot of sense right now and the Warriors need to do whatever they can to keep the pool as a bridge between the old and new guards.
But it won't be cheap.
It should be noted that some time ago that bridge was believed to be Wiggins. At 27, he is both an eight-year veteran and a young player.
Wiggins' All-Star turn at the start of the season was a recognition for the Warriors and the Wing, which the Timberwolves happily rocked in the 2019–20 season.
But since that moment of validation—we can point it out because Wiggins was named an All-Star in January—his performance has declined sharply.
A good game here and there, no doubt, but Wiggins averages 15 points per game, on an effective field goal percentage of 45. This, while his defense also declined.
But Wiggins is, of course, getting paid like an all-star, thanks to the Timberwolves. He is owed $33.6 million next season, which is the last of his contract.
Highly paid players rarely enter the final year of a contract without consent. Due out this summer, a decision is effectively on his future with Wiggins and Dubs.
With a team deep in luxury tax, to the point where half a billion dollar payroll isn't out of the question, how can they keep it?
Poole has created a clear him-or-me scenario for dubs. The charming guard has played his part in the big bucks and the Warriors will not pay both him and Wiggins next season.
Poole is a restricted free agent at the end of the 2023 season, meaning any team can offer him a contract, but the Warriors have the right to refuse.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported in February that the Warriors may try to move forward by offering Poole a contract, which their experts estimate to be in the four-year, $80 million range.
But the only thing outpacing national inflation is the cost of the Jordan Pool.
As with his most recent game, Poole must order Wiggins' money from the Warriors in any contract extension talks.
Wiggins' current contract is just shy of $30 million a year.
How the Warriors pay for a new, no-max pool contract and the luxury tax bill that comes with it is a puzzle for Basketball Operations president Bob Myers to solve, but it probably starts with Wiggins landing. .
And if the warriors don't give that kind of money to the pool?
Well, then the child must bet on himself. Decline any offer that is not a nine-figure one and bet that the semi-open market will fetch the jackpot.
Poole has lived up to expectations in the best possible way at every turn of his career.
I won't underestimate him -- or offer to pay less -- this summer.