Draymond Green Stays with the Warriors

Draymond Green is back home. The star forward has signed a one-year, $27.7 million contract with the Golden State Warriors, ensuring he’ll remain in the Bay Area for another season alongside Stephen Curry and coach Steve Kerr.

Green had the option for a no-trade clause, but this latest contract doesn’t include one. It’s rumored that the Warriors would have offered him a long-term deal if they had managed to sign LeBron James.

This offseason, Green decided to opt out of his player option, worth $27.77 million, mainly to give the Warriors some financial leeway in their bid to sign James. Though many expected his return, the team was actively pursuing James throughout the past month.

Interestingly, Green seemed to play a role in recruiting James to Golden State. However, the 41-year-old star ultimately chose to sign a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Green speculated that the intense public scrutiny that would come from rejoining the Warriors may have influenced James’s decision. After all, the rivalry between the Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals from 2015 to 2018 was pretty charged, and perhaps James felt it would be too complicated to finish his career alongside Curry and Green.

Last season, Green averaged 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists, with a shooting percentage of 41.8 percent from the field and 32.6 percent from beyond the arc. This was notable for him, as it marked the first time he finished a season outside the top 10 in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

The Warriors drafted Green in the 2012 NBA Draft at 35th overall from Michigan State University. Since then, he has won four NBA championships, made four All-Star appearances, earned five All-Defensive First Team selections, and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.

If the Warriors had faced the Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals, Green likely would have been in contention for Finals MVP. He put up an impressive 32 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists in Game 7, shooting 6-of-8 from the field. Additionally, he scored 28 points in a commanding Game 2 victory that year.

Now, in his 15th season, Green remains an essential part of the Warriors’ veteran lineup alongside Curry and Jimmy Butler. Beyond the pursuit of James, the Warriors’ management hasn’t made many moves during this free agency period. In fact, every other NBA team has added new players, either through trades or free agency.

Nonetheless, Golden State secured veteran players like Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford. They also selected Jaxel Lendeborg as the 11th overall pick in the recent NBA Draft.

While there are uncertainties about the Warriors’ prospects in a competitive Western Conference, Green’s contract solidifies his role as a cornerstone of the organization. At 36, he’s had a long career in the Bay Area. Though his performance has dipped in recent years, this new deal signals ongoing loyalty from the team.