Let’s be honest—Game 3’s 102–97 loss to the Timberwolves felt less like a playoff game and more like a funeral for the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty. Stephen Curry is out, probably till Game 6. Draymond’s walking on tech-shells. The young guns? They looked more like summer league benchwarmers than the “bridge to the future” we were promised. The limp offense, the thin bench, the existential dread—it all traces back to a $184.5 million mistake that’s still draining this franchise.
“Warriors trading Poole and missing on a few draft picks since they lost KD is killing them right now.” Jalen Rose tweeted it out in his X account. But Warriors fans have been screaming it in group chats for a year now. That quote? It’s not a hot take—it’s a eulogy.
Jalen didn’t lie. Jordan Poole was supposed to be the new face of the Golden State Warriors’ youth movement—a 28th overall pick who exploded into a microwave scorer and key contributor during their 2022 championship. That run got him a four-year, $128 million extension (with $123 million guaranteed). Toss in his rookie deal and all possible incentives, and the Warriors sunk $140 million into what they believed was their future.
Warriors trading Poole and missing on a few draft picks since they lost KD is killing them right now.
— Jalen Rose (@JalenRose) May 11, 2025
Fast forward to summer 2023: Poole’s erratic playoff performance and locker room drama—remember that Draymond punch?—had worn thin. Golden State dumped his contract to Washington for Chris Paul. It was a clear pivot from “develop the kids” to “keep Steph happy.”
“We can be good for several years, not just one, but we definitely want to win,” Joe Lacob had said. But here’s the problem: Before his exit, CP3 didn’t move the needle. Poole didn’t exactly thrive in D.C., but the Warriors got neither long-term help nor present firepower in return. If you want to trace back, the Warriors’ mistakes piled up since they let go of Kevin Durant following his $61.5 million contract.
That combined $184.5 million of what could have been their future and recipe for a title, now looks like a lot of sunk cost for a plan that never made it past the prototype stage.
Kevin Durant’s Exit Was the Fork in the Road—And the Golden State Warriors Picked the Wrong Turn
When Kevin Durant bounced in 2019, the dynasty didn’t collapse overnight. But it definitely lost its GPS.
Golden State Warriors didn’t just lose a generational scorer—they lost leverage, allure, and direction. Steve Kerr later admitted, “ It was obvious to everyone that Kevin just needed a new challenge. He was looking to move on.” But the Warriors never truly pivoted. Instead of embracing a full reset or aggressively reloading, they tried to do both. And in the end, they did neither.
They didn’t get meaningful assets in return—just a D’Angelo Russell rental, which they flipped for Andrew Wiggins and a pick. Wiggins helped them win in 2022, no doubt. But the bigger issue? What came next.
Post-KD, the front office tried to thread an impossible needle: win now and build the next generation. It sounded cute in theory—Steph and the OGs pass the torch while the kids level up in the background. But in reality? It’s been five years of bad reads, mid-level talent swings, and lottery picks turning into “who’s that again?”
The Golden State Warriors had prime draft positioning but very little to show for it. James Wiseman, picked second overall in 2020, never found his footing. Injuries, shaky feel for the game, and a poor fit with veterans led to a mid-rookie trade. Jonathan Kuminga has the tools but still lacks Steve Kerr’s full trust. His role remains inconsistent. Moses Moody shows flashes but hasn’t earned a playoff role. The 2022 class—Patrick Baldwin Jr., Ryan Rollins, and Gui Santos—has either been traded or buried in the G League. The 2023 duo, Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis, is promising. But relying on two rookies to stabilize a fading core isn’t great team-building.
Nearly half a decade of draft capital has netted them no clear-cut starter, no future star, and certainly no heir to Steph or Draymond.
While KD’s post-Warriors career has included its own flops in Brooklyn and Phoenix, Golden State’s mess came with a side of luxury tax and front office stubbornness. And now, in 2025, that decision tree might be burning.
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