While Draymond Green would prefer to finish his career with the Warriors, he tells Taylor Rooks of Bleacher Report “the writing’s on the wall” when it comes to his NBA future (video link).
Green can become a free agent this summer by declining his $27.6MM player option for the 2023/24 season. If he chooses to pick up the option, his expiring contract becomes a valuable trade asset for Golden State, which is already setting records with its luxury tax bill.
Green tells Rooks that he’s aware of all those factors and is at peace with however they play out, even if it means leaving the Warriors after 11 years.
“I understand the business,” he said. “We tend to get into the mindset that someone owes us something because of what we’ve accomplished. … I understand the luxury tax. I understand you got these young guys and contracts up and they have to get paid.”
There’s more on the Warriors:
- In the same interview, Green addresses a preseason skirmish with Jordan Poole that resulted in him being fined by the team (video link). Green calls their relationship since the incident “a constant work in progress” and said he continues to try to smooth things over because it’s important to the organization. “I’ll always be willing to continue to do that work because I was wrong,” he said.
- Since making his season debut last week, Andre Iguodala has been in an unusual role as the team’s first big man off the bench, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Coach Steve Kerr has been using him to replace Kevon Looney early in games, playing at power forward alongside Green. Iguodala, 39, is still adjusting to his new position after spending his entire career on the perimeter. He hopes to be part of the team’s rotation for the rest of the season. “As long as the body is good, I want to play,” he said. “Then before the playoffs, I’d like to get a good run of 10, 15 games straight no issues. So, yeah, that’s pretty much the plan. I want to get comfortable shooting when I’m tired. Once I get that, I’m fine.”
- Warriors officials were honored to be part of San Antonio’s record-setting crowd of 68,323 in Friday’s game at the Alamodome, according to Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. When the Spurs told the league about their plan to play in their former home, they picked a game against Golden State to help drive ticket sales. “We love being part of this stuff,” Warriors president Brandon Schneider said. “It says a lot about us that they wanted us to be the opponent.”
I feel GS and the Lakers would benefit from a blockbuster trade at the end of this lost season for both teams. My trade proposal:
GS get:
– LeBron James with 2 years left on his contract
Lakers get:
– Andrew Wiggins with 4 years left on his contract
– Jordan Poole with 4 years left on his contract
– 2 unprotected 1st round draft picks
GS is almost guaranteed to win another championship in the next 2 years with LeBron and the Lakers get younger and faster, keep their own draft picks, and add draft picks.
I wouldnt trade Wiggins straight up for LBJ, not only because he’s too old but he just doesnt fit into Warriors culture.
All 3 of the players he mentioned can’t be traded because they all signed extensions this year. I would take Wiggins over LeBron because of age.
LeBron can’t be traded unless he wants to. He’s too big of a diva and he’s basically a gm. It would never happen. So you lost me at LeBron
i wouldnt say diva, i just think he understands his legacy and what going to GS would mean for it. if bron ever asked for a trade, the only teams i could see are PHX, MIA, PHI, NYK
I say diva for a number of reasons.
The whole “decision” was a big diva move.
Storming off the court prematurely in Boston after losing in the playoffs his first go round with Cleveland without congratulating the other team. Diva move. Always demanding certain players to be acquired alongside him. Diva move. Saying he thinks he’s better than Jordan. Diva move. Too big to reply to Enes Freedom for pointing out he’s a hypocrite for talking about social justice when he took millions from Nike who exploits unethical labor. Diva move.
His last comment about how he’s above losing and it isn’t in his DNA when he’s the one the put the lakers in a cap stranglehold by making them bring in Westbrook and Davis. Diva move.
I respect his game and I know he’s one of the top 3-5 of all time. But I do not like a lot of the stuff he says and does.
You sure do think a lot about what LeBron says or doesn’t say. I could care less about the stuff he says and does. He’s a very talented dude and he always works hard. The rest is just noise you let get in your head.
Ironic that you say you could care less about what he says, but yet took the time to rely to what I said about what he says lol
I was also living in Cleveland during his antics when he broke that city’s heart. People were literally burning his jerseys in the street. So to many many people at one time or another, it was a lot more than just noise.
Plus a lot of that is his actions, not words.
SPOT ON!! <3
Wiggins has clearly more trade value than LeBron.
Fair trade
Wiggins, Moody and Ja Green for LeBron and Lakers 2 unprotected Firsts.
Warriors love Lakers 2027 and 2029 picks
@sillivan the Warriors would have to give up much more than that to get LeBron and 2 1st. Besides, why would they want to do that? Don’t understand how the Warriors getting really old helps them.
We don’t want LeBron!
The Warriors would be absolute FOOLS to make that trade! Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole are our future. We need a strong defensive presence and we get that from Wiggins. We also need a strong offensive presence and we get that from Poole. LeBron keeps declining and just stands and watches on defense!! I, for one, would rather have almost anyone else. Plus, strength in numbers. LeBron is only out for himself on the court. He doesn’t fit our mold AT ALL. He is egomaniacal and selfish. EXACTLY the opposite of our other players (with the exception of Draymond). You can keep your “self-proposed king”. We don’t want him! I would rather have Wiggins and Poole ANY DAY!! Plus LBJ is not worth those two AND 2 first round picks!! What are you smokin’?
“LeBron keeps declining” James averaged 35.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 7.7 assists while shooting 54.8% from the field and 76.7% from the free throw line. While going 4-0 and winning player of the week so much decline!
Put him on a team with 2 other scorers and those numbers go way down that is why his numbers are in a bubble being the #1 offensive player on the Lakers. What you didn’t mention is he is playing terrible defense.
Yeah but he will help GS win another championship
That’s my point. LeBron is playing the best basketball of his career and I see him playing at a high level until to age 45 (like Tom Brady). I don’t see GS winning another championship, certainly not with Wiggins and Poole. I do see them winning 1 or 2 more with my proposed trade. Both teams are .500 teams for the near future unless they make this trade
But Warriors won last year, did you forget already?? Also, dont focus so much on all the individual stats. Fact is Lakers have been one of the worst teams the last 2 yrs, and Warriors among the best if not the best.
Iggy is amazing. He looks healthy and strong, and still can play. Give him 10 games to get rust out of the way, and he will be a huge lift for W’s bench.
Does Draymond understand that no one is going to give gim more money than the Warriors?
Not after this summer and not after last playoffs where he looked like bad Ben Simmons on offence…
Huh? What does last season have to do with this season?