The Golden State Warriors have involved Draymond Green in active trade conversations in advance of Thursday’s deadline, league sources told ESPN, putting his 14-season run with the franchise in jeopardy.
General manager Mike Dunleavy and controlling owner Joe Lacob have maintained a motivation to get a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo across the finish line and, as part of that, Green’s name has been involved in the framework of available offers to the Milwaukee Bucks, league sources said.
To make the salaries match, the Warriors have to put either injured wing Jimmy Butler III (making $56.8 million next season) or Green ($27.6 million next season) in the deal. Green has a smaller and easier-to-redirect contract, and he is currently healthy and able to contribute to a contender, unlike Butler, so he has been of more appeal to the Bucks and the rest of the league in deadline trade conversations.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he spoke to Green on Monday about his uncertain future as trade rumors swirl.
“This is probably the first time, I would say, since I’ve been here that his name has ever really been mentioned in trade talks,” Kerr said Tuesday during his pregame media availability. “So it’s different. But it’s also part of the league. It’s part of almost every player’s journey in this league.”
Kerr and star guard Stephen Curry have always said they’d prefer Green to retire in a Warriors jersey. But Lacob and Dunleavy will be making the choice and, as they try to rearrange their roster for the future, Green is being made more available than he has been in the past.
After Tuesday night’s 113-94 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Green acknowledged the possibility that it was his final game with the Warriors.
“I think a lot of people want to know how I feel about it,” Green said. “Like, am I upset about it? I’m not at all. If [trading me is] what’s best for this organization, that’s what’s best for this organization. I’m not like, ‘Ah, they f—ed me over.’ I don’t really feel that way.”
Green said the conversation with Kerr let him know the trade possibility was real, and Green even let his son know on the way to Tuesday’s game that the Warriors might move him.
“I’ve been here 13½ years,” Green said. “That’s longer than probably 98% of NBA players have been in one place. A guy from Saginaw, Michigan. I don’t know that it ends at 13½, but if it does, what a f—ing run it’s been. I’ll take the fine. What a f—ing run it has been. That’s just how I feel.”
