Golden State Warriors ‘really want’ Draymond Green back
New Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. has made it clear that he wants to keep Draymond Green in the Bay Arena.
Green, a core piece in the Warriors dynasty, declined his $27.6 million player option for the 2023-24 NBA season. Golden State has now directed its attention toward retaining the power forward this offseason.
“We really want Draymond back,” Dunleavy said at his introductory news conference Monday. “What he means in terms of this organization and this team, winning at the highest level, we feel like we have to have him.”
In contrast, Green’s agents have not committed to re-signing with the Warriors. Instead, he will explore other options while keeping the door open to returning to Golden State.
“We will continue to talk to Golden State and explore all options,” Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN.
Green, 33, has continued to produce as a Warrior. In 2022-23, he averaged 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists while playing a major role in Golden State’s early playoff success through his defensive presence and screen-setting.
While Green is no longer in his prime, he is certainly productive enough to help the Warriors.
The contract details of Green’s next deal will largely determine his status in Golden State. The Warriors are set to have $145 million committed to Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Jordan Poole next season. With the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, the Warriors will face serious cap issues. If Green gets a new contract, especially a lengthy one, those issues will compound.
Additionally, Thompson’s contract expires after this season. That leaves the Warriors in a position to determine his future with the organization as well. That is not as much of an immediate issue for the Warriors, however.
If Green opts to leave Golden State, he will likely have suitors elsewhere. The most obvious landing spot would be the Los Angeles Lakers. Green could help a championship-hungry Lakers team as long as he works within the team’s cap limitations. Outside of that, it is tough to predict if Green would be interested in joining a young team that has the salary cap flexibility to offer him a large contract.
Green’s free agency will be a massive litmus test for Dunleavy who is entering his first offseason as the Warriors GM after Bob Myers stepped down from the position.
***
Click here for more NBA content
Check out the Vendetta Shop
Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube
