While there are several key factors in the Golden State Warriors’ surge to the second-best record in the NBA during the 2021-22 season, Jordan Poole’s rise has played a significant role.
After a strong finish to his sophomore campaign, Poole entered the starting lineup with Klay Thompson pushing through the final stages of his injury rehab. In his third season since being drafted in the first round of the 2019 draft, the Michigan product is averaging 16.4 points on 43.8% shooting from the field with 3.5 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 28.8 minutes per contest.
Along with averaging career-highs in points, field goal shooting percentage, rebounds, assists and minutes, Poole is leading the league from the free-throw stripe, shooting 92.2% from the line.
Following Poole’s breakout, the Warriors could be planning to lock up the 22-year-old guard during the offseason. According to Connor Letourneau of The San Francisco Chronicle, the Warriors will attempt to sign Poole to a multiyear extension during the summer.
Via The San Francisco Chronicle:
The Warriors also will try to sign Poole to a multiyear extension this summer, which would allow them to avoid having to deal with him in restricted free agency in 2023. Keith Smith, a salary-cap expert for Spotrac, estimates that deal to be in the four-year, $80 million range.
While the Warriors will have to get creative when it comes to the salary cap with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green all under contract, finding a way to extend Poole before he hits the open market could be the route to locking up a key piece of their young core.
As the Warriors build towards a potential deep run through the postseason, Steve Kerr will continue to lean on Poole in a vital role off the bench down the stretch.
This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
