Future Hall of Famer Draymond Green has spent 11 often volatile seasons with the Golden State Warriors to open his career. The four-time champion is just now testing NBA free agency for the first time.
While it seems to be a good bet that Green will re-sign with the Warriors in free agency, a number of contending teams are interested in the former Defensive Player of the Year. We’re now hearing a bit more about Green’s situation with free agency opening around the Association.
“The market for Draymond Green has developed enough that all offers are starting at four years, though it’s not clear whether the fourth year will be guaranteed, a player option or team option,” Matt Moore of the Action Network noted on Friday.
The Sacramento Kings and Detroit Pistons are among the teams that have been bandied about as potential destinations. Green, 33, declined his $27.59 million player option for the 2023-24 season in hopes of cashing in on one more long-term contract.
Speculation of interest from other teams could very well be Green’s way of upping the ante for the Warriors. He is represented by Klutch Sports, an entity that is known for playing hardball. As of right now, a return to the Warriors seems to be most likely.
Related: Where will Draymond Green land in NBA free agency?
Draymond Green stats (2022-23): 8.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 6.8 APG, 53% shooting
Green has upped his game in each of the past three seasons after some major struggles during the COVID-shortened 2019-20 campaign. He’s still seen as a franchise cornerstone for a Warriors team with a narrowing championship window.
At issue here is that four-year contract detail Moore mentioned above. Investing that much to an aging player long-term with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson still under contract will have some widespread financial ramifications for a Warriors squad that could have a combined payroll of $500 million next season.
With that said, Golden State’s decision to trade enigmatic star guard Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards for the 38-year-old Chris Paul tells us a lot about new general manager Mike Dunleavy’s throught process. He’s building this team to win right now.
Any new Draymond Green contract, whether with the Warriors or another team, will likely come in at $30-plus million annually.
