Credit: Twitter
The Golden State Warriors have made a blockbuster trade ahead of the upcoming season that will shake up the NBA landscape. The Warriors have acquired 12-time NBA All-Star guard Chris Paul from the Washington Wizards in exchange for forward Patrick Baldwin Jr, guards Jordan Poole and Ryan Rollins, a 2027 second-round draft pick, and a 2030 first-round draft pick. Curry, who led the NBA in scoring with 32 points per game last season, took to Instagram to welcome Paul to the Bay Area and express his excitement about playing with him.
The trade was officially announced just recently after weeks of speculation and rumors. The Warriors are hoping that Paul, a 12-time All-Star and one of the best playmakers in NBA history, can help them return to championship contention after a disappointing season that saw them lose to Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs.
The 38-year-old was acquired by Washington via trade with the Phoenix Suns on June 24 after averaging 13.9 points, 8.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.54 steals in 32.0 minutes over 59 games (all starts) last season in Phoenix. Paul will join forces with Steph Curry, one of the greatest shooters and scorers of all time.
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Curry welcomed Paul with open arms on his Instagram as he said in the video, "CP, can't wait to ride with you brother. It'll be different with us on the same side. Let's get it! Let's get it!" Curry also bid farewell to Poole, who was drafted by the Warriors in 2019 and developed into a solid contributor to the team. Poole averaged 20.4 points and 4.5 assists in his last season with the Warriors, showing flashes of potential as a scorer and playmaker.
"Yo, so now that the trade is actually final, felt like I’d come on here and just say to JP how much I appreciated the four years, brother," Curry told Poole. "You’re a champion. You grew up right in front of everybody’s face in terms of that first year where it was rough, a lot of injuries and trying to find your way, to going to the G League and coming back and helping us finish 15-5 down the stretch in the second year, us winning a championship your third year and fighting to the end this past year.
The 35-year-old added, "Can’t wait to see you blossom, big fella. Can’t wait to see you shine in your own situation and just looking forward to competing, obviously, but being a fan of everything that you become. Good luck to you. And CP, can’t wait to rock with you, brother. It’s going to be different with us on the same side. Let’s get it."
Watch the video here:
The arrival of Paul signals a significant shift away from Golden State's previous two-timeline strategy, so it will be interesting to see how he fits into the team's plans. Paul should provide the Warriors more consistency during those crucial non-Steph Curry minutes. While the loss of Poole is painful, the Warriors believe that the addition of Paul will be a significant factor in their quest for a sixth championship with this team.
