With the 2023 NBA Draft hours away, two blockbuster deals before the draft have already shaken the NBA landscape.
– Washington Wizards trade Chris Paul to Golden State for Jordan Poole, a protected first-round pick in 2030 and a second-rounder in 2027. What can widely be considered the aftermath from “The Punch”, the one-year experiment that was Jordan Poole has come to an abrupt end, as the Warriors sent the 24-year-old swingman to our nation’s capital one year into a four-year, $128 million deal.
One year after helping the Warriors win their fourth title in eight years, the former Michigan standout averaged 20.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists. While his numbers increased, Poole would commit many questionable decisions in shooting, passing as his field-goal percentage dropped from 44.8 to 43.0 and his three-point shooting fell off from 36.4 to 33.6.
In the case of Paul, 38, widely considered one of the game’s all-time best point guard to have never won a title, this may very well be his last chance after spending the last three years down in the Valley with the Suns. If Paul can somehow stay healthy, he could prove to be a valuable asset to a Warriors team determined to win their fifth ring in nine years.
Recently traded as part of the pending Bradley Beal deal, this will Paul’s third team in seven seasons, as he also had stops in Oklahoma City and Houston.
– Celtics, Wizards and Grizzlies complete three-team trade. Kristaps Porzingis To Celtics, Marcus Smart to Grizzlies, Tyus Jones to Washington. After failing to complete one three-team deal involving the Clippers, the Celtics and Wizards were able to complete their deal with help from the Memphis Grizzlies being the third team, for Kristap Prozingis.
Porzingis, 27, the centerpiece of the three-team deal, heads to a Boston team desperate for a stretch big who can also provide outside shooting, as “The Unicorn” averaged career-highs in 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game for the Wiz last season.
Memphis, who will be without the troubled and yet talented Ja Morant for 25 games, lands the vocal nine-year veteran and NBA Defensive Player of The Year in Smart, who will likely share some time in the starting backcourt till Morant returns, averaged 11.5 points and a Boston team-high 6.5 assists.
Jones, the league’s best backup point guard averaged 16.4 points, 8.1 assists in 22 games as a starter for Washington.
– Scoot Henderson No.2 To Hornets? With Victor Webanyama going No.1 overall to San Antonio all bit a formality, the real drama of tonight’s NBA Draft will be who will be taken second. Rumors and buzz have been building that G-League ignite star Scoot Henderson, may be selected ahead of Alabama guard Brandon Miller.
Henderson, a 6’2 195-pound point guard, averaged 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists while shooting 32.4% from three-point range. With LaMelo Ball lacking a legit running mate in Charlotte, Henderson could be that guy who can take some pressure off of him, as well as create some offense of his own.