The Warriors have plenty of reasons to be skeptical about Draymond Green despite the contrition he showed during today’s apology, writes Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the punch that felled teammate Jordan Poole at Wednesday’s practice, Green apologized to Poole and his teammates, along with Poole’s family and his own family during a nearly 40-minute session with the media.
Green called himself “a flawed human being” and pledged to work on his shortcomings. He will spend some time away from the team, and it hasn’t been decided if he’ll return for the regular season opener October 18.
“You apologize with words,” he said. “But, ultimately, your actions show your apologies. I’ve apologized with my words to my team and to Jordan. And now I will allow my actions to show my apology.”
Although Green said all the right things, Monte Poole notes that it’s the latest in a string of troubling incidents. Green tried to attack coach Steve Kerr during halftime of a 2016 game at Oklahoma City, he got suspended for Game 6 of that year’s NBA Finals after hitting LeBron James and he had a heated on-court argument with Kevin Durant while they were teammates in 2018.
Kerr, who has witnessed all of Green’s bad behavior, seemed to express doubt over the apology, Poole adds. When asked whether Green had compromised his trust with the team, Kerr responded, “no comment,” and when a follow-up question addressed whether Green would be ready to rejoin the lineup after missing most of the preseason, Kerr only said, “speculation.”
There’s more on the Green situation:
- Kerr was angry that video of Green’s punch was leaked to TMZ, telling reporters that he’s seen similar incidents during his three decades in the NBA and it’s best if they’re handled internally, Poole tweets. “It’s just so much cleaner and smoother and you can move forward,” Kerr said. “As soon as things are leaked, you know, now all hell breaks loose and that affects every single player, coach, but especially the players and because of that, because everything is out there, the players are now having to deal with all of this stuff.”
- Kerr explained that it was a “mutual” decision to keep Green away from the team for a while and it was made after discussions involving Green and team leaders, Marc Stein tweets.
- Making things right with Jordan Poole should be the Warriors’ priority moving forward, argues Tim Kawakami of The Athletic. The 23-year-old guard is a vital part of the organization’s future, and through October 17 he’s eligible for a rookie scale extension that could pay him upward of $30MM per season. If Poole no longer feels comfortable after what happened Wednesday, that could force Golden State to start exploring the trade market for Green, Kawakami adds.
- Rival executives and agents don’t expect the Warriors to try to move Green in response to the punch, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. Pincus also talked to sources close to Green, who believe that he and the team will be able to move past the incident.
Trade market for Green?
What trade market…
He’s only remained in the league because he played next to Steph…
Defence first ball handlers that can’t do anything but pass and screen on offence do not last long in the league… Steph allowed him to play his role, one that only exists on tanking teams or next to the generational talent of Steph…
That’s an exaggeration, but it’s no secret that his best fit in the league by a wide margin came with the Warriors. Doesn’t mean he would’ve been out of the league otherwise, especially with shooting more prominent than it was during the early part of their careers.
That said, a declining Draymond with significant baggage, a limited fit, and on an expiring deal isn’t going to net you much. I’m not sure he’d even fetch a first at this point.
good call, silli! green and moody for Simmons? go back to your Lego’s please.
The Blazers have fairly relentlessly created their rosters that would have beaten everyone had they gotten Draymond. Dame Lillard loves Dray, as does Bron. There’s 2 teams. Also Sacramento would be an apt landing spot.
Draymond and Hield to Lakers
Ben Simmons to Warriors
Commander Westbrook and Lakers picks to Pacers
Nets get Turner, McConnell and Moody
Add second round picks to make it work
As a Laker fan I say yes
Pacers fan – – I say no.
Why do you hate the warriors? That is one bad trade because the Warriors give up too much for Simmons. Warriors are over the cap so they can’t take on more payroll.
@ ARC 2
Not to mention that Simmons sucks. One of the most overrated players ever.
@Sillivan the Nets would laugh, hang up the phone, and block the Warriors GM. In what world does trading Ben Simmons in deals that involve Draymond Green and Westbrook make any sense?
666…..good call! he won’t last! (beginning year #11)
@Scarlett
Not a fan of Green nor the GSW. However, I would be wrong if I didn’t point out that the relationship between Curry and Green is mutually beneficial. Green is such a high IQ floor general that he takes the load off of Curry in terms of orchestrating the offense. On several seasons Green was the team leader in assists. That freed up Curry to move more without the ball and flourish. That being said Green is made for GSW with maybe a few other teams having the necessities to diminish his lack of personal scoring.
Well said and you’re 100% correct my friend
I think Draymond Green going to end up getting himself traded behind that. You can’t go around punching your teammates like that. Jordan Poole didn’t deserve that type of treatment.
I’m a warriors fan, and have mostly been a Draymond fan, even with his declining skill set. But looking around the nba only Bam Adebayo, Ben Simmons, Jerami Grant and Giannis can do all the things as well as Draymond does them. He’s a loose cannon and can be easily provoked, but the Dubs offense is prone to stall without him. Although he’s not the point-forward that Draymond has become, but I wonder if the dubs have considered acquiring Jae Crowder as a stop-gap place holder until they can develop/find a power forward that would fit with the dubs.
Coolio…..as a fellow dubs fan, the team isn’t the same without his passing and defense….without him they lack fire, i.m.o. lets just play the year out….for the greater good.
I get it he’s in the top 1% talent in the world at what he does for a living and the rest of us are replaceable ants but I wish just once a well known sports athlete would get what they deserve. If any of us swung at a coworker like this, we wouldn’t even get the chance to apologize for 40 minutes we’d be out the door almost immediately. Just really sad to see, Watson gets paid the most nfl money after sexually assaulting women, ruggs gets house arrest after going 130+ in a residential zone and killing someone and her dog. Of course what green did doesn’t come close to either of those, but this will all just get swept under the rug and by mid-season it’ll seem like it never even happened
Accused, not actually sexually assaulting anyone
Crime or not, it’s hard to punish something that no one felt it worth to report to the authorities as a crime.
No it isn’t. Not hard at all. That is some really convoluted logic on your part.
Those Kerr non-quotes are pretty damning. It seems clearer and clearer by the day that the Warriors are going to have to do something here, after the public scrutiny they’ve faced for multiple missteps. And you know the media isn’t going to let up on this anytime soon. The faster they suspend, the better.
Yup the “no comment” in particular was eyebrow raising
He should be in jail, he clearly pushed it pass the line. If he was working a 9-5 like the rest of us, he’d be fired and put in jail
Damn, arrest Jordan for hitting Kerr, or arrest every baseball player that charges the mound, or better yet arrest hockey players who beat each other bloody. Come on Karen it was a punch.
The Jordan thing was 30 years ago and we don’t know if it was a sucker punch like Green did.
Draymond has been the heart of Warriors dynasty. He is as irreplaceble as they come. Unfortunately, Draymond’s career with Warriors is officially over. I will call it.
He is a great Warrior legend but he screwed ip big time and Warriors will turn the page. Both Wiggins and Poole will be signed to extensions.
Kuminga and Wiseman will have to step up, and W’s will do their best to get fair return for Draymond. It will be a huge void for the team and will take much time, but W’s will learn to once again win without Draymond.
It’s highly unlikely that the Warriors trade him. He will play for them this season.
But getting a well paid extension won’t happen. The market for him took quite a “hit” due to this.
Warriors ownership and mgmt will decide not to let one guy embarass the whole organization and be a distraction. They do have a standard and have put up with Draymond all these yrs, but not when a guy hurts the Warriors brand. It’s over.
I’m curious – when you say “it’s over”, what do you think the Warriors’ ownership and mgmt are going to do (and when)?
He will never ever put on Warriors uniform again. It’s possible Warriors might take their time to trade him, but he will never ever play for the team. It’s bold but it’s time to take a stand. Aside from this incident, Draymond has been a distraction for the team with his podcast and tnt also.
Sorry Michol. There’s no chance that you’re correct.
Sorry Michol, there’s no chance that you’re correct X2.
They will run this thing back because they won it last year. Green stays Poole stays Wiggins stays and they’re all under contract for the season.
Now next summer is a different story. Green is gone and hopefully Jonathan Kuminga can take his place. Or Wiseman develops and becomes the defensive specialist, or Moody. But Green will look for his 3-year contract elsewhere. And the Warriors will happily let him walk.
I think Poole the same thing. He’ll get major dollars elsewhere and as a restricted free agent the Warriors will not match. Hopefully the core gets ring number five this year and then they’ll sport a slightly different look next year.
DirtyDra ……. byebye
He’s not going anywhere and neither are your Knicks
He just left like your thoughts ……..
The Warriors are furiously working on a trade if they have the least concern for their credibility. Should have dumped him long ago. His toxicity cannot be mitigated.
The warrior haters are all out in force. Warriors are riding out the season with Green and Poole. Just watch David he signs with your favorite team and you praise Green.
His “toxicity can not be mitigated” and yet they are the reigning league Champs.
Much like “Poole’s a defensive liability” yeah but he just won a ring playing like that, so, maybe thats on yall for overrating defense a bit, especially on a team with plenty of good defenders on it?
No it isn’t. Poole is an embarrassment of a defensive player. Because of that he is not very valuable. Instead of posting knee-jerk comments constantly, you should actually watch the games- you might be able to understand how the NBA works. Now mute me because we all know you are terrified of confrontation.
Send his butt to purgatory*
*sacramento
It’s one thing if Draymond’s “incidents” were getting less frequent and violent, but this crosses every line. I dont care if he stays or not, but its looking like GSW might move him.
@ A’sfan
Pfft. Talking heads’ speculation doesn’t mean “GSW might move him”.
Guys, dont be naive. Nothing is gonna happen. Neither Dray nor Poole will be traded. Everybody involved gonna say generic statements about forgiveness and rings
If Kerr and the Warriors felt this strongly about Green’s actions, maybe they should have done something about it before the video got leaked. Their only real objection and handing out of consequences comes after it’s made public
They already were, the leak happened after they were already talking about suspending him. Knock off this re-writing history BS after we all just saw what happened.
But sure, keep lying to suit whatever bogus narrative you are trying to push, you philistines always do….
Before the video was released the gm is literally quoted as saying he doesn’t think green will be suspended. Hoopsrumors literally did an article on it titled.
Warriors GM “Doesn’t Think” Draymond Green Will Be Suspended
October 6th, 2022 at 4:01pm CST • By Rory Maher
Anthony Slatet of The Athletic wrote a tweet saying
Bob Myers said he “doesn’t think” Draymond Green will miss any games as part of the disciplinary process.
You’re a few fries short of a happy meal aren’t you dude.
Ah no. They were trying to cover it up as just a altercation not a cowardly sucker punch. Draymond then had his media minions victim blame Poole. The video had to come out
Cam is right. The Warriors organization clearly lacks the integrity to do the right thing. I would be disgusted and embarrassed if I rooted for this garbage franchise.
What would “the right thing” be, according to you?
go ahead and hate your neighbor…go ahead and cheat a friend. do it in the name of heaven, you can justify it in the end. there won’t be any trumpets blowing, come the judgement day.
In 2 months everyone will forget about this and it will be a non story.
Just like they forgot about the Jordan Kerr punch huh?
Pretty much. The Bulls weren’t stopped by the punch…
I get the overwhelming feeling if Kerr had his way Draymond would have been gone years ago
Wrong. It seems to me Steve Kerr likes winning. Sure he’s a knucklehead but Green’s effective on the floor.
Green cost them two rings already and has had multiple blowups with Kerr. His only value is to the warriors though as he’s the ultimate system player with little real value to other teams
DirtyDra and PollutedPoole ……. Figures the Dirty2 get dirty ………. Karma
From an organizational perspective, this allows the Warriors to let Draymond walk next year. If they offer him less than Dray’s max value and he declines, they can say they “tried”. If Draymond accepts less money to stay, it plays to their positive cultural narrative. One thing is for sure though: they are not going to let Green’s contract topic derail plans with Poole, Wiggins, et al
Here’s a deal where the money kinda works:
Lakers receive:
– D.Green from Warriors ($26mm)
– B.Hield from Pacers ($21mm)
Pacers receive:
– R.Westbrook from Lakers ($47mm)
– R.Rollins from Warriors
– 1st Round Pick from Lakers
– 1st Round Pick from Lakers
Warriors receive:
– M.Turner from Pacers ($17.5mm)
Warriors subtract about $9mm while adding Turner. Myles, Wiseman, Loon make some outstanding rim protection, for those worried about losing Draymond’s defense.
PG Curry, DiVincenzo
SG Thompson, Poole, Moody
SF Wiggins, Kuminga, Iguodala
PF Looney, J.Green
C Turner, Wiseman
Lakers get Draymond and Hield while dropping Russ for even money. They have to include those picks
PG Beverly
SG Hield
SF James
PF Green
C Davis
Pacers can absorb Westbrook’s expiring deal with the 1st rounders and Rollins the actual prize