The Golden State Warriors have been at the top of the NBA news over the past week. This was not because the preseason has just started, and the Warriors are the defending champions. No, certainly not that. Rather, the Jordan Poole and Draymond Green fiasco -- so to say.
Leaked footage of fight:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lqN-e8t-00
The Warriors have elected not to suspend Green. For better or worse, the Warriors will have to deal with the consequences of the fight and the following leak of it in the locker room.
Rumors of a trade of Draymond Green have come up, but they seem unlikely. Green’s talent is one of the most unique in NBA history. While he leaves a lot to be desired offensively despite his high level passing, it is his defense that is truly generational. It seems like NBA fans still find a way to underrate his defensive skill set. The versatility and interior defense brings a ridiculous amount of value to the Warriors.
Advanced metrics viewed Green as one of, if not the best defenders in the league last season. EPM (Estimated Plus-Minus) had his DEPM notched at +5.0, the top in the league by a wide margin (over 2nd by +1.4), and D-LEBRON placed him 3rd with +3.47. He’s just ridiculously impactful on that side of the court, and he’s too disrespected. Anybody who denies that Green is a generational defender is simply wrong; he’s been at this level for years and is the glue of the Warriors.
Punching the way over to Jordan Poole, he is coming off of a clear-cut breakout season. He oozes offensive talent with the shiftiness, shooting, crafty finishing, and budding playmaking. There is a plausible argument that Poole is by far the second best Warrior offensively, and I am a proponent of that. At just 23 years old, Poole is a valuable part of this Warriors franchise as Stephen Curry is set to turn 35 years old in March of the upcoming season.
The Warriors project to be a top team in the Western Conference again, and credit for this is certainly due to these two players. It’s certainly reasonable to say that these two are the 2nd and 3rd best players for the Dubs, of course trailing reigning Finals MVP Stephen Curry. Though Andrew Wiggins had an excellent playoff performance, it’s hard to place him over either of these two players, and Klay Thompson is simply regressing.
If the Warriors want to compete this year, they need Green to sustain his level of play and Poole to continue his progression. The controversy around their fight will be difficult to get over, but if they’re able to push it behind them and win games, the Warriors are a scary team. There are a lot of high level teams this season, and the Warriors will be in the contending mix.
- Charlie Spungin
NBA Analyst