Perhaps the most surprising move of the NBA off-season so far has seen Chris Paul traded to the Golden State Warriors despite years of rivalry, but it seems the former Phoenix Suns star was not the Warriors' first choice.
The 12-time All-Star was acquired by Golden State from the Washington Wizards last week – although the league is yet to confirm the deal – in return for a haul including 24-year-old combo guard Jordan Poole. The deal came just days after the Wizards acquired Paul in the agreement that sent Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns.
Throughout a career that has taken in many stops in the Western Conference, Paul and the Warriors have long held a rivalry that peaked when he was with the Houston Rockets for the 2018 conference finals. Golden State edged the series in Game 7 and they went on to sweep the Cleveland Cavaliers to clinch the NBA title.
Now, Paul and the Warriors are on the same side and it is a jarring thought for fans and players alike, although it is intriguing to consider how he might fit into the rotation in the Bay Area.
But, according to The Athletic, Paul may not have been the Warriors' first choice as they try to bolster their resources this summer after a disappointing playoff exit in the conference semi-finals last month. The Warriors reportedly shopped Poole, who averaged 20.4 points per game in 2022/23 but tailed off badly in the playoffs, around the league, including to the Toronto Raptors.
In return, the Warriors wanted London-born wing OG Anunoby, but the response from north of the border was a firm refusal. Yahoo Sports reports the Warriors also made contact with the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs over possible deals involving Poole, but nothing came to fruition.
Anunoby, 25, averaged 16 points per game in 2022/23, a marked improvement on his career average, and he certainly would have been an asset to a Warriors rotation that was found severely lacking in depth beyond Steph Curry and the rest of the starting five.
Ultimately, a deal for Paul has worked out nicely for the Warriors, with the 38-year-old becoming available at the right time to fill a void in Steve Kerr's roster, while also parting ways with Poole – a player who was the subject of significant unwanted attention last season after he was punched by teammate Draymond Green in October.
Although it is difficult to see how Paul fits into the Warriors' starting five – and he is not an ideal fit for the fast-paced, long-range game they like to play – he is a safe pair of hands to run the offense when Curry is not on the floor.
Indeed, with Curry, Klay Thompson and Green on the court last season, the Warriors were an excellent team, but the minutes they spent on the sideline proved costly and Paul – whether he was Plan A or not – helps to address that problem.
