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Draymond Green reportedly declining player option with Warriors, will enter free agency
03
Aug
Aug
What’s next for Draymond Green as Warriors’ fiery star enters free agency?
According to reports, Draymond Green opted out of his contract with the Golden State Warriors on Monday, becoming an unrestricted free agent.
With Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson on the Warriors’ championship teams, Green declined a player option that would have paid him $27.58 million during 2023-24.
As a result, Green will test the open market, where a return to the Warriors is also possible.
Following the news, Green’s agent Rich Paul told ESPN that he would continue to talk to Golden State and explore all options.
What are Draymond Green’s options?
The Warriors have been Green’s team for the entirety of his 11-year career.
Green has three options: he can negotiate a new deal with the Warriors to stay, negotiate a sign-and-trade deal to go to another team, or sign with a new team.
What could be Draymond Green’s motivations?
Regardless of how long he wants to play in the NBA, Green’s decision to opt out of his contract is a business decision to secure more than the $27.5 million he would have made next season in terms of financial security. A free agent after next season could weaken Green’s negotiating leverage.
What could a return to Golden State look like for Draymond Green?
Draymond Green reportedly declining player option with Warriors, will enter free agency
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What's next for Draymond Green as Warriors' fiery star enters free agency?
According to reports, Draymond Green opted out of his cont… pic.twitter.com/BBWBliayqa— Fire Garlic (@firegarliccom) June 20, 2023
The biggest motivation for Green in a new deal could be returning to win a fifth ring with the Warriors. However, he will have to make amends for his biggest transgression last season.
Green and coach Steve Kerr both acknowledged after Golden State’s playoff run against the Los Angeles Lakers in October that the team was simply not the same after Green punched guard Jordan Poole.
On ESPN on May 16, Green said, “We’re not playing right now because – when you talk about fouling, when you talk about the slippage we had on the road, not being able to come together, none of those things happen if (the altercation with Poole) doesn’t happen.”
“What happened back in October compromised things,” Kerr said.
The reason he returns next year is so he can rebuild some of the trust and respect he’s earned here for so long,” Kerr said about Green. One thing I love about Draymond is that he’s always brutally honest and he can handle criticism like that because he knows it’s the truth.”
What team could be the best fit for Draymond Green?
Depending on other teams’ motivations and incoming salary cap restrictions, Green’s market may be limited.
Other than returning to Golden State, one team stands out as an obvious choice for speculation: the Lakers.
Paul is Green’s agent and the two have become friends over the years despite going toe-to-toe during their NBA Finals matchups.
The Warriors may explore other options at the power forward position now that Bob Myers has stepped down and been replaced by Mike Dunleavy Jr. as general manager.
However, replacing Green would take considerable time and effort.
As well as being Golden State’s fiery personality, Green plays point forward in Kerr’s offense and knows how to get Curry and Thompson the shots they need to succeed.