Despite signing a four-year, $140M contract extension, Jordan Poole‘s performance dropped sharply in the 2022-23 season. He struggled with missed 3-pointers and turnovers, contributing to the Warriors’ early playoff exit. According to reports, his average of 8.3 points in 20.7 minutes per game against the Lakers led to his trade to the Washington Wizards despite GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. believing Poole had potential.

One year later, Dunleavy Jr. still isn’t as confident about the extensions for rookies as he was during Jordan Poole’s time. The fact that their former Shooting Guard had more court time and contributed to their last championship win, gave the GM more confidence.

“Is there a little lack of clarity even with both Kuminga and Moody, maybe that you’ve had with Jordan?” He was asked on media day. And Dunleavy said: “I think the last time around with Jordan coming off an NBA championship. I think your mindset and your feelings about things may maybe skewed in some ways. But in the sense of Moses and JK, we feel good about those guys.” Well, the Warriors’ opinions had reasons to be skewed.

Warriors had a poor return on its first-round draft picks over the past seven years (Damian Jones, Jacob Evans, and James Wiseman, for example). In that scenario, Poole was a dazzling success story. In the final 20 games of the 2021-22 season, Poole’s average was 25.4 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.3 rebounds on 48/43/92 shooting splits. Then in his first-ever playoff appearance, he pulled off 17 points and 3.8 assists on 51/39/92 shooting in 28 minutes per game. This was instrumental in the Warriors’ championship run in 2022, its 4th in 8 seasons.

Not only that, Poole had his stats improving with every season. He averaged 8.5 points on 33% shooting as a rookie, then averaged 12.0 points on 43% shooting in 2020-21, again increasing that to 18.5 points on 45% shooting in the Warriors’ championship year. After only one 30-point game in his first two NBA regular seasons, Poole pulled off 10 30-point games in 2021-22. This made him the first Warriors player, 22 or younger, to do that in a season since Monta Ellis in 2007-08, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Fans understandably were elated as they started projecting him as a potential “third Splash Brother” So was the front office. So much so that the team led by Bob Myers, offered Poole a four-year extension in the summer of 2022 that amounted up to $140 million with incentives.

“It’s been quite a journey over these four years. Being able just to win a ring and play with so many great guys and learn as much as I have. And just to be able to be locked in for the next five [years] with the rest of my teammates … it’s exciting,” the 28th overall pick in 2019 said about his extension in October 2022. The good vibe seemed to end the strain that started from teammate Draymond Green punching him during an altercation in practice on October 5, 2022. In fact, the Warriors seemed quite supportive of Poole during the episode.

“He’s someone we’re going to rely on for many years to come and that’s exciting. We’ve got a lot of good young players, but Jordan is by far the most advanced,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said standing by Poole. But it all changed in the season that followed. Despite his scoring average increasing to over 20 points per game, Poole saw significant declines in field goal percentage (43%) and 3-point percentage (34%). Things got worse in the playoffs.

In 13 playoff games, Poole averaged 10.3 points and 3.5 assists on a miserable 34/25/77 shooting splits. During the postseason Poole visibly looked dejected. After a Game 4 loss to the Lakers where he played only 10 minutes, his replies to the media evidently appeared to be avoiding the situation. The last nail in the coffin was probably the Warriors’ postseason elimination. In fact, the support Poole received during the punching incident also seemed to fade away as it was projected as one reason for his exit.

“There’s no hiding from it, the incident with Draymond and Jordan at the beginning of the year played a role in that. It’s hard for that not to impact a team. We have a way of doing things that we’re very proud of, but those things were definitely challenged this year. Anytime some trust is lost, then it makes the process much more difficult, and there was some trust lost. That’s as blunt as I can be,” Kerr said in May last year. So how did the end come?

On June 19 last year, newly appointed Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy alongside owner Joe Lacob told the media that they intend to keep Poole “for four more years at least.” And on June 22, he was traded to the Washington Wizards for aging point guard Chris Paul. Looks like the entire episode has a bearing on what is happening with the contracts of current rookies Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. However, the front office knows what their choices are.

So, Mike Dunleavy added: “Like they’ve been here we know what’s under the hood. We know those guys well so yeah we want to, you know, the jump you usually take from your third year to the fourth year. We want to sort of see what that is. But, I don’t think we have to see what it is to get a deal done.” The Warriors also face a tight salary cap, with less than a million available, complicating the situation. Therefore, on hearing Mike Dunleavy’s conversation, one might say, he’s beating around the bush, pointing at their underlying concerns.

The Dubs might avoid the same risks they took with Jordan Poole

Would it be disappointing for Mike Dunleavy if he fails to get the rookie extensions for Kuminga and Moody? “We’re working through that with them and the representation right now,” Dunleavy said. He added that the front office is currently having a “good” and positive conversation with the hoopers. They are also working on the representation. “I think regardless of whether we get something done or not we want those guys here. Just because you don’t get an extension done doesn’t mean they’re not going to be here for a long time,” he added.

The team is surely looking for ways to solidify the extension for Jonathan Kuminga. However, With the deadline on October 21 approaching near, Golden State has not made significant progress toward a deal with him, according to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater. If they don’t sign extensions, Kuminga and Moody will be restricted free agents next summer. In the 2021 lottery, Kuminga was picked as No. 7 overall.

As The Athletic noted, Kuminga had said in March that he’d like to be a “Warrior for life,” but back then he was happy with his role. Kerr was starting him at power forward, with Andrew Wiggins at the 3 spot and Draymond Green playing smallball 5. A couple of weeks after Kuminga said that he had to sit out for six games because of tendinitis in his left knee.

During that period, Kerr started Green at the 4 next to rookie big man Trayce Jackson-Davis. When Kuminga returned, he game off the bench for a few games. The reason for his dwindling role has been that he is not much of a floor spacer. Back in March 2023, Kerr was clear that.the Warriors couldn’t play Kuminga at small forward if opposing teams didn’t respect his 3-point shot. Kerr said the same in April at his end-of-season press conference after the defensive success of Green and Jackson-Davis.

“I think what JK is looking at is: How can he make himself more versatile to be available in different lineups? Can he be a 3? It’s a big question, and I don’t know the answer to it. But know that, as we continue to help him and he continues to learn how to create spacing and get his shot off a little quicker and be more comfortable catch-and-shooting, but also making the right reads — because as a 3 you handle the ball more — can he become a better passer?” Kerr had said, adding that he had to improve his passing.

So, in light of this apparent lack of confidence in Kuminga’s abilities, the question of how much the Warriors will spend for him remains. “Tentative” conversations about the extension have reportedly occurred, but “a clear divide” remains, according to the Athletic. The team is also willing to wait for Kuminga to become a free agent if they fail to acquire him until 21st October.

“And I think for them the most important thing is, you know we’ll get through these next few weeks with a deal or not a deal but the most all that matters is they have great seasons and whether they sign an extension or not,” Dunleavy noted. All eyes would be on the developments. Poole won return for sure. However, the extension for Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody is becoming an interesting conversation. The trade market just keeps getting more interesting. And that is just one of the many faces of the NBA!