When the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors bowed out to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals, there was a feeling that their dynasty was coming to an end.
Now, they will have to confront that potential reality head-on, as forward Draymond Green is expected to opt out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent. However, as Marc J. Spears reported, the Warriors will try to keep him in the Bay.
“The Warriors expect Draymond Green to opt out of the final year of his $26 million contract, I’m being told,” Spears stated. “But Joe Lacob, [Mike] Dunleavy, the Warriors are going to do everything in their power, if he does as expected, to bring him back.”
Some fans may look at Green’s stats and conclude that Golden State can continue to be very competitive without him. However, his importance to the team goes well beyond his mere numbers.
He has been the team’s emotional and spiritual leader over the years, not to mention its defensive ace and one of its best rebounders and ball-handlers. Green is also very adept at leading the fast break and getting the Warriors easy baskets in transition, which has always been one of their biggest strengths.
He was originally the No. 35 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, and he started to blossom during his third pro season, which was when the Warriors won their first championship of the Stephen Curry era.
Of course, Green has also been a loose cannon over the years. He has dealt with some suspensions for what some have considered dirty play, most notably during the 2016 NBA Finals. That suspension resulted in him being unavailable for Game 5, and it turned the series against Golden State, which led three games to one at the time.
In the first round of this year’s playoffs, Green stomped on Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis, which got him ejected, as well as suspended for one game.
In general, change could be in order for the Warriors, as executive Bob Myers has stepped down. There is always the chance they try to make a big move via trade in order to keep their dynasty alive.
