Green Declines 2023-24 Player Option
Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors had a $27.6M player option in his contract he could have picked up for the 2023-2024 season. On Monday morning he declined it.
Green’s agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski “We will continue to talk to Golden State and explore all options.”
The 33 year old signed a $99.6M four-year contract extension with the Warriors in 2020. By declining the player option for the final season of the contract, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent once free agency opens. Of course, this was expected by analysts as Green was reported to be wanting a bigger contract extension prior to the Warriors giving Jordan Poole a massive deal instead.
With the decision to opt out of the final year of an existing contract, Green and the Warriors front office led by General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. can sit down in hopes of working things out. Failing that, there remains the option to include possible sign-and-trade scenarios if ZGreen opts to move on.
In his first press conference as general manager, Dunleavy suggested that bringing back Green was a priority. But with the issues involving the 4x NBA champion during the 2022-2023 season, highlighted by the altercation between Poole and Green during a practice, can the Warriors convince the one-time Defensive Player of the Year to remain in San Francisco?
The Options
There remains a possibility that Green and the Warriors can find common ground and ink a contract extension. However, with the Warriors still paying Steph Curry and Klay Thompson north of $40M each, signing the former Michigan St. star to a supermax contract extension may be difficult to accomplish.
If both parties can’t find common ground that allows their relationship to continue, the options are limitless for Green despite his declining numbers.
One option would be for Green to sign a contract extension with Golden State, who will then trade the 35th overall pick from the 2012 NBA Draft. This way, the Warriors will have more financial leeway to add another young player who will complement Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga. This would also help the Warriors prepare for the post-Steph Curry era.
Green’s name has been a common denominator in some of the trade prospects involving the Warriors in hopes of returning to championship contender status.
Another option the team is reportedly exploring is attempting to move Jordan Poole this offseason to facilitate a deal with Green. While this path could give Mike Dunleavy and company some major headaches, keeping Green allows the original Warriors core to have another run at a title.
If the options above don’t work, Green would be free to walk out of Golden State and become an unrestricted free agent. This would allow Green to join any team he wishes, though one would assume he would likely join a veteran heavy team in the middle of its window to compete.
While Green’s averages dipped to 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 52.7% field goal shooting last season, any team would benefit from acquiring Green because of his energy on the defensive side of the floor. If the front offices are able to make the financial side of things work, then the outspoken Warrior could be a major acquisition for a team with title hopes this summer.
-Iggy Gonzales
Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Evans. This file is a work of a sailor or employee of the U.S. Navy, taken or made as part of that person’s official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, it is in the public domain in the United States.