The Golden State Warriors would love the focus to be on their defense of the Larry O’Brien Trophy as we head toward the NBA regular season, but unfortunately, that is not the case. The physical altercation that occurred at their practice last week between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole became headline news.
While it was easier to quell talks of it when it was first reported, someone selling a video of the incident and its leaking heightened the response.
While many players and coaches will downplay the incident, saying they have seen or been a part of fights during training camp in the past, seeing a video changes people’s perspectives. Just ask the NFL, with how they handled the Ray Rice news before and after a video surfaced.
Green has since apologized but is taking some time away from the team. He will eventually return, but how much longer will his tenure in Golden State go on? Green is eligible for a contract extension this offseason, but any chance of a deal getting done likely went out the window when he struck Poole.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Draymond Green & Golden State Warriors Updates
Having a player option for the 2023-24 season, Green could become a free agent next summer. With that looming, one NBA executive that spoke to NBA Analysis Network believes the time is now for Golden State to trade away the former Defensive Player of the Year.
“The Warriors can win without Draymond Green. Everything starts and stops with Steph Curry. He makes Draymond somewhat viable offensively. You saw it even with Team USA that it was clunky for Draymond to get that same two-man game going with other stars. … If he could leave soon, why not get ahead of it?”
Green’s future was up in the air before the incident with Poole even occurred. Golden State would love to keep everyone, but it may not be fiscally possible as ownership is already paying an exorbitant amount of money for the roster.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Draymond Green & Golden State Warriors Updates
Alas, there will likely be players that cannot be retained. The Warriors have to decide which player they would be able to replace most easily and it very well could be Green in the opinion of the executive.
“Don’t get me wrong, Draymond is a great defender and is very important on that end. He can guard the other team’s No. 2 option while being an anchor as a small ball five. His low-man rotations are always great, too. Again, his defensive process is very important. But regardless, maybe it’s time to see if other players can handle more of that responsibility. Jonathan Kuminga could be a great option if he develops into it.”
Part of the reason that the Warriors didn’t seriously entertain trading away their young players was that they knew their roles would be growing sooner than later. They could see more playing time as early as the 2022-23 season as Gary Payton II and Otto Porter Jr. both departed in free agency.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Draymond Green & Golden State Warriors Updates
Losing Green, who is the heart and soul of the team, would certainly hurt. Stephen Curry likely wouldn’t like that either, as he has been open about keeping the trio of himself, Klay Thompson and Green together. But if the Warriors could get anything of value in return for Green, they would have to think long and hard about trading him as they do have the pieces to replace him more easily than Andrew Wiggins or Poole.
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