Draymond Green’s emergence was a key element to the Golden State Warriors’ championship run during the 2014-15 NBA season, and his breakout year arrived at the perfect moment.
The small forward, who is a restricted free agent this summer, averaged 11.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists during the regular season. Green is due a hefty raise, and potential suitors are becoming more clear as the official opening of free agency on July 1 draws ever nearer.
According to Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports, four teams in particular—the Warriors, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks—will pursue Green.
Since the 25-year-old is a restricted free agent, Golden State holds the right to match any offer sheet Green signs and retain him. Spears notes the franchise has said “re-signing Green is a high priority.”
However, teams like the Pistons will almost assuredly offer a max contract to a player who tallied a triple-double in the series-clinching game of the NBA Finals.
That’s the look of a man knowing he’s about to sign a max contract. Now, we’re waiting to see if for which franchise that will officially be.
Per HoopsHype, Golden State has a total of $78 million on the books for next season, a number that’s already over the salary cap. The easiest and most likely way to free cap space is trading David Lee, a former All-Star who Green effectively pushed out of the lineup last season. Previous reports noted the team and Lee have agreed to part ways, but that still needs to actually happen for the money to be available.
Though the Warriors are currently at risk of entering the luxury tax, it appears extremely unlikely they won’t match an offer sheet. Granted, that doesn’t change the interest level from other franchises.
Atlanta must re-sign restricted free agent DeMarre Carroll, but Green is a clear upgrade. Houston would add the piece it clearly needed for a championship run, and Detroit is an obvious choice. Green, a Michigan native who attended Michigan State University, would fit perfectly in Stan Van Gundy’s offensive scheme as a stretch-4.
Don’t expect Green to leave Golden State, but enjoy the chase, too.
Photo: USA Today Sports