With their exploding luxury-tax bill, every future dollar committed is important for the Golden State Warriors to track and monitor. It may dictate whether they do or don’t make subsequent moves. That’s why the exact details of Jordan Poole’s lucrative four-year extension, which kicks in next season, are useful to understand.
Poole is guaranteed at least $123 million over the course of the deal. It can stretch its way to $140 million, but the odds of Poole obtaining every dollar of that extra $17 million are near impossible, given the incentive structure in place.
So let’s take a quick look at it. This is on a per-season basis, in place for each of the four years.
Poole will make an extra $250,000 if he plays at least 65 regular-season games and the Warriors reach the first round of the playoffs.
Poole will make an extra $250,000 if he plays at least 65 regular-season games and the Warriors reach the second round of the playoffs.
Poole will make an extra $250,000 if he plays at least 65 regular-season games and the Warriors reach the conference finals.
Poole will make an extra $250,000 if he plays at least 65 regular-season games and the Warriors reach the NBA Finals.
Poole will make an extra $250,000 if he plays at least 65 regular-season games and the Warriors win at least 52 regular-season games.
The NBA has deemed all five of those as likely incentives, meaning they will initially be counted against the salary cap in Poole’s projected number but won’t count against the actual tax bill unless he meets the required incentive.
But those only make up $1.25 million of the extra $4.