The Golden State Warriors have not shied away from the fact Jordan Poole got traded to the Washington Wizards because of the ramifications of Draymond Green punching the young guard. Poole has been silent on the matter. Green had been too, until now.
Appearing on Patrick Beverley’s podcast, Green says the punch was not an instant reaction.
“I don’t just hit people,” Green said. “Dialogue happens over time and you usually ain’t triggered by something like… that fast. This is a team, can’t nobody on my team trigger me in an instant. We know stuff you don’t say amongst men. We know things that you have to stand on.”
Green didn’t go into great detail about the incident. However, he did paint the picture that he felt he was provoked by the dialogue the two previously had leading to the confrontation.
Green viciously punched Poole during a preseason practice. Video of the incident surfaced, and Green briefly excused himself from the team after apologizing for his actions.
Poole and Green co-existed throughout the regular season. But it was evident the chemistry of the Warriors was forever changed. The team struggled on the road all season, going a baffling 11-30 away from the Chase Center.
The Warriors made the playoffs with a 44-38 record and defeated the higher-seeded Sacramento Kings in the first round, winning Game 7 in Sacramento. However, the Warriors lost to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in six games in the following round.
Draymond Green admitted the punch affected the team negatively. Golden State’s head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged that changes were needed. On July 7, the Warriors officially traded Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards in a deal that Golden State acquired 12-time All-Star Chris Paul.
The 24-year-old Poole carries his four-year, $128 million rookie extension to Washington. The Wizards expect Poole to lead a young team after reshaping its roster by trading former cornerstone Bradley Beal and 7-foot-3 Kristaps Porzingis this summer.
Meanwhile, the Warriors re-signed the 33-year-old Green to a four-year, $100 million extension. Golden State is looking to add a fifth NBA championship around its core of Green, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson with the addition of Paul.
Poole has avoided speaking on the situation at every turn. Green has only been vague when asked. Because the details of what led are still unknown outside of the Warriors’ organization, expect both players to get asked constantly about what went down.
