Going for Green 💸

06/20/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Warriors’ Draymond Green Declines $27.5 Million Player Option to Become Unrestricted Free Agent

The next big NBA offseason domino fell when Warriors forward Draymond Green opted out of his $27.5 million option on Monday. Green has signed multiple extensions with Golden State since the Warriors drafted him in 2012. He’s never tested free agency, and this could be his last chance at a bite of the apple at 33 years old. So what does this mean for the Warriors? And where could he land?

Dub Dynasty’s 1st Casualty

The Warriors won four championships and reached six NBA Finals in an eight-year window from 2015-2022. They’ve been the NBA’s most relevant “dynasty” over the last decade with the same core of three Hall of Famers — Green (33), Klay Thompson (33), and of course, Stephen Curry (35). All three are aging fast, and Warriors GM Bob Myers stepped down in preparation for the potential decline. Mike Dunleavy Jr. was announced as the new GM on Monday, and it’ll be his job to salvage the dynasty.

Potential Landing Spots

Green is one of the few NBA players with a value that’s difficult to project through statistics. His career averages are 8.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, but he’s the hustle, defense, and glue guy. It’s hard to see the perfect fit for Green outside of San Francisco, and he could stay in the Bay, but he’s always been a big fan of LeBron James (Lakers). His play style and age make him a likely fit for contenders who value defense. Teams like the Heat and Mavericks make sense. There are also rumors of the Pistons being interested in the Saginaw native who played for Michigan State.

USA Today: What’s Next for Draymond Green as Warriors’ Fiery Star Enters Free Agency?

Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images