Warriors receive: Monte Morris, Delon Wright, Daniel Gafford, the no. 8 pick
Wizards receive: Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga
The Golden State Warriors are in desperate need to offload some salary as they are going to be negotiating a new contract with Draymond Green and an extension with Klay Thompson this summer. Once the new collective bargaining agreement kicks in, the tax bill for the Warriors is about to get unmanageable, so the Warriors must shed some contracts. And the best way to do that is to get rid of Jordan Poole and his four-year contract worth $128 million.
Poole certainly disappointed in the playoffs this season after bursting onto the scene with his impressive scoring off the bench when the Warriors won the championship in 2021-22. He may never be worth that contract but he is a valuable offensive player and is only 23 years old. He will look better in a situation that is not championship-or-bust like Golden State.
To make it more palatable for the Wizards, the Warriors need to attach Jonathan Kuminga to the package. The 20-year-old Kuminga is an athletic freak who can get to the basket at an elite level. He is big, quick, and strong; making him a feasible option to play multiple positions. The primary concern about him is the inconsistent effort level but in a situation like the Wizards where he has guaranteed playing time and a bigger offensive role, this could be less of an issue. It is difficult to find a player with a higher upside than Kuminga with the 8th pick of the draft this year.
On the Warriors’ side, the on-the-court return may not seem amazing at first as Wright and Gafford’s lack of shooting may create problems in the Warriors’ rotation. However, it makes sense for Golden State to make this deal a part of a bigger package since it is much easier to trade multiple mid-level contracts rather than one behemoth of a Jordan Poole contract. It is a good step in the right direction to reshape the roster for another championship run.
Washington Wizards all-time draft bust starting 5
The Washington Wizards have missed in the draft recently, but those have not been the only busts in team history. Here is a look at their five biggest.