On December 24, Beijing time, in this offseason, the Warriors made a high-profile trade, sending the young and promising Poole to the Wizards in exchange for Paul, who is already in the twilight of his career. At the time, the deal was widely controversial, with many arguing that the Warriors trading Poole for Paul was the wrong choice. In retrospect, however, the deal may not have been as bad as one might think.
First, let's be clear that the Warriors weren't trading Poole just because of his potential. Over the past few seasons, the Warriors have struggled to keep the team competitive while also developing young players. However, as Curry gets older, the Warriors need to prepare for the future, and Poole is considered one of the future cores of the team. In this case, it is understandable that the Warriors chose to trade Poole in exchange for an experienced veteran.
So why does the deal now seem to be a profit?First, Paul's arrival brings valuable experience and leadership to the Warriors. Even though Paul's scoring ability and physicality are no longer as good as they were in his prime, his basketball IQ, playmaking and defensive skills are still top-notch. Paul's arrival will provide better guidance and assistance to the Warriors' young players, while also improving the team's overall competitiveness.
Second, the deal also frees up salary space for the Warriors. Poole's big contract has just been signed, and Paul has only one year left on his contract. That means the Warriors don't need to worry about Poole's contract for the rest of the season, leaving more flexibility for the team's salary structure. This is very important for a team that needs to balance salary and competitiveness.
Of course, we can't ignore the risks that this deal may bring. Paul's age and injury history are both factors to consider. However, on the flip side, the Warriors didn't give up the team's future core in this deal, instead opting for a more pragmatic route that leaves more possibilities for the team's present and future.
All that said, while questions were raised at the time about the Warriors' decision to trade Paul for Poole, it now looks like the deal may not be as bad as people thought. Paul's arrival brings valuable experience and leadership to the Warriors, saves salary space, and adds possibilities to the team's future draft. Of course, we also need to recognize the risks and challenges that this deal may bring, but at least for now, this deal has brought a lot of gains for the Warriors.