SAN FRANCISCO — Amid the champagne showers that drenched Golden State’s locker room within the TD Garden, Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins hopped on Instagram Live to share the celebration with their followers.
In the livestream, Poole checked out Wiggins and proclaimed, “You’re going to get a bag.”
An uncontrollable smile cracked throughout Wiggins’ face earlier than he responded, “No, we’re going to get a bag.” Poole repeated the identical phrases again to the digital camera.
Wiggins, who’s heading into the ultimate season of his $147 million rookie extension from 2017 with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Poole, who’s getting into the final yr of his rookie deal, are each up for contract extensions earlier than turning into free agents subsequent offseason. They have till Oct. 17 to negotiate new contracts with the Warriors.
“I would love to stay here,” Wiggins mentioned Saturday afternoon on the Warriors’ exit interviews. “Being here, this is top-notch. The way they treat the players … we’re all one big family. I feel like a lot of places may say that, but they show it through their actions.”
Wiggins arrived in Golden State in a commerce that stemmed from Kevin Durant‘s departure in 2019. At first, there have been questions on how efficient the commerce could be.
Wiggins was leaving the Timberwolves with a repute that advised he was lazy. Many did not suppose he was a tough employee or would give you the chance to make a real affect on the Warriors — particularly not one that may assist them win one other title.
But by the tip of the season, the message from contained in the Warriors was that they would not have gained with out Wiggins. And he turned the primary participant to get his first All-Star nod and win his first title with the workforce he did not debut with.
“There was a lot of talk, people have something to say about every little thing, but now I’m happy that I made it here,” Wiggins mentioned. “People didn’t think I could ever be in this position or even be helpful on a championship team. But I’m proving the doubters wrong and I’m going to keep it going.”
Like Wiggins, there have been quite a lot of doubts surrounding Poole’s future. Following his rookie season in 2019-20, some questioned whether or not he would also have a future within the league. But this season, he not solely crammed the beginning capturing guard spot as Kay Thompson labored his method again however he additionally began rather than Stephen Curry via the ultimate month of the common season — and the primary few video games of the playoffs — earlier than he created his personal position as a sixth man.
“He definitely deserves [a new contract],” Wiggins mentioned. “Jordan is someone who works so hard, who makes his teammates better, and can go out there on the court and dominate.”
Poole wasn’t as definitive as Wiggins when requested if he would really like to return to Golden State, nevertheless it wasn’t as if he sounded keen to go wherever else.
“If I’m going to be completely honest, I haven’t even been able to fathom anything about that process yet,” Poole mentioned. “I was so locked in on the championship. Like, we know it will happen, we put ourselves in situations to be successful and everything else will take care of itself.”
While signing Wiggins and Poole to extensions could be a transfer to maintain them from turning into free agents subsequent summer season, the Warriors have various free agents this offseason.
Gary Payton II, Andre Iguodala, Kevon Looney, Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica, Damion Lee and Chris Chiozza will all be unrestricted free agents. Just Juan Toscano-Anderson and Quinndary Weatherspoon can be restricted free agents.
Of the upcoming free agents who have been made obtainable for exit interviews, all voiced a desire to stay in Golden State.
Payton, who turned a key participant for the Warriors after grabbing the fifteenth roster spot firstly of the season, mentioned he would “absolutely” like to stay with Golden State.
A journeyman who has spent most of his profession within the G League and has been lower from 5 totally different groups, Payton mentioned he expects this summer season to be the primary time he will get to decide the place he finally ends up.
After Looney’s breakout season that noticed him play in each regular-season and playoff recreation, he mentioned he “definitely” desires to return to the workforce that drafted him.
“I always want to be back here,” Looney mentioned. “I want to come back and try to defend what we just won and be a part of something special again.”
Porter signed a one-year take care of the Warriors to deliver a veteran presence to the workforce. When he joined final summer season, he noticed profitable a title as a doable final result, and now that it has occurred he additionally vocalized wanting to come again for extra.
“I do know that this team can compete again for another championship and it would be a great opportunity if I could stay here,” Porter mentioned. “It would be amazing to be here with that group of guys again and do it all over again.”
Whether the Warriors can retain all these gamers is but to be seen. They are already the highest-spending them within the league.
But there’s clearly a mutual desire between the entrance workplace and gamers to have an analogous roster from this championship yr heading into subsequent season.
