Draymond Green Becomes Eligible for Non-restricted Contract Negotiations with the Warriors in the Offseason
Fresh Take:
Draymond Green, a seasoned veteran for the Golden State Warriors, has opted out of his $27.5 million contract for the 2023-24 season, making him an unrestricted free agent, as per Shams Charania's report from The Athletic.
Pursuing All Opportunities
Green's representative, Rich Paul, shared, "We'll keep chatting with Golden State and consider every possible path," as Adrian Wojnarowski reported for ESPN. Despite this move, the Warriors team remains determined to re-sign Green on a new deal, as Wojnarowski and fellow ESPN analyst Marc Spears mentioned on "NBA Today."
A Rocky Season
This past season brought numerous challenges for the 33-year-old Green. He averaged 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists across 73 games, with a field goal percentage of 52.7% and a 3-point percentage of 30.5%. The season got off to a contentious start when Green clashed with teammate Jordan Poole, leading to Green temporarily stepping away from the team. Head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged that this incident had negatively impacted the Warriors' performance.
Green faced more issues during the playoffs, with a one-game ban in the initial round against the Sacramento Kings due to his history of unsportsmanlike behavior, as per league officials. Regardless, Kerr emphasized Green's significance to the team, stating, "If Draymond isn't here, we're not championship material. He's that fundamental to our success."
Unified Ambitions
Both Green and Kerr have expressed their intentions for Green to continue wearing the Warriors' jersey. Kerr even joined Green on his podcast to discuss the crucial elements of constructing a championship team. With the change in leadership, as Bob Myers stepped down and Mike Dunleavy Jr. took over as president and general manager, Dunleavy now has the task of negotiating Green's contract.
During his introductory news conference, Dunleavy commented on the news, "We genuinely want Draymond back. He means so much to this organization and this team in terms of striving for the pinnacle. So, that's extremely important."
Looking forward, Green, who earned $25.8 million in the 2022-23 season, is likely to seek a maximum contract extension worth $164.2 million over the next five seasons, a deal he reportedly believed he deserved during the previous offseason.
As the Warriors navigate the offseason, Dunleavy will be tasked with a range of responsibilities in his new role as the team's general manager.
Fun Fact: Draymond Green recently picked up the NBA Mr. Hustle Award for the 2024-25 season, underscoring his continued worth to the team.[2]
- Amidst his decision to opt out of his $27.5 million contract, Draymond Green's representative, Rich Paul, has stated an openness to exploring all possible paths, including potential negotiations with the Golden State Warriors.
- Despite the challenges faced by Draymond Green in the past season, both he and head coach Steve Kerr have expressed their desire for Green to continue representing the Warriors, acknowledging his significance to the team's success.
- In the 2022-23 season, Draymond Green, a seasoned basketball player, earned $25.8 million and is likely to seek a maximum contract extension worth $164.2 million over the next five seasons, a figure he reportedly believed he deserved during the previous offseason.
- In his new role as president and general manager, Mike Dunleavy Jr. now faces the challenge of navigating the offseason, particularly in negotiating Draymond Green's contract and successfully re-signing the NBA player for the upcoming seasons.
