Most people close to the situation in Oakland have been strongly hinting that the Golden State Warriors will not let up-and-coming forward Draymond Green leave in free agency this week.
Indications from both sides have also pointed to a long-term contract being worked out. Green has repeatedly indicated he’s looking to return to the defending champs. Meanwhile, the Warriors have made it clear they will match any offer Green may receive as a restricted free agent.
A recent report from the Bay Area News Group’s Marcus Thompson is now suggesting that Green may not even test the open market. In fact, the two sides are looking to get a deal done shortly after free agency opens up at 12:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday morning.
“The meeting is scheduled for 9:01 p.m. because free agency doesn’t begin until midnight Eastern time on July 1. Green is giving the Warriors the first crack and the Warriors are hoping to get the best deal they can. The expectation is that Green and the Warriors will reach an agreement tomorrow and nix the chance of him going to another team.”
As Thompson indicated, Golden State can offer Green more on a max deal than any other team in the Association—a deal that would be worth $90.67 million over five seasons.
Though, that’s not necessarily the story here. Long considered a max player in today’s market, and in the Warriors scheme, Thompson went on to tell us a story of a player that’s willing to take less to return to Oakland:
“According to one of the sources with knowledge of Green’s plans, he loves the franchise, his teammates and the area too much to leave,” the scribe reported. “Life after a championship only confirmed to him how much he wanted to stay. He is even willing to take less than the maximum to keep the core together long term.”
This could be huge for a Warriors team that isn’t necessarily in the best cap situation. Already slated to be well above the luxury tax threshold, Golden State needs to find a way to save as much money as possible. And while it is shopping David Lee in on the trade block, it’s unlikely the team can find another squad to take Lee’s contract in what would amount to a salary dump.
Thompson’s report also fits in with what Green’s agent, former NBA player B.J. Armstrong, said on Monday:
“This is an incredible opportunity for everyone because this is a young team. They have a great nucleus, a great coaching staff,” Armstrong said, via Bay Area News Group. “Draymond is so thankful to be part of the Warriors organization. We understand that. He understands that. The Warriors organization understands that. Let’s focus on the ‘we’ of the situation.”
People close to Green have also reported that he’s more interested in winning than earning the most money possible moving forward. Coming off a NBA championship season that saw the Warriors finish with the third-most wins in league history (postseason included), Golden State affords Green that opportunity.
Barring a dramatic change over the next day or so, it appears one of the better free agents will be off the market shortly after free agency itself opens up.
That’s big for the Warriors.
Photo: USA Today Sports