Hours after Draymond Green declined his $27 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent, Golden State Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. expressed confidence that they could work out a deal with the veteran forward.
“We really want Draymond back,” Dunleavy said. “To win at the highest level, we feel we have to have him. Beyond that, a lot could be made of all the challenges, but we are ready.”
"To win at the highest level, we feel we have to have [Draymond]."
Mike Dunleavy Jr. says re-signing Draymond Green is the Warriors' top priority this offseason 👀
(via @NBCSWarriors)pic.twitter.com/R0PbzGlb61
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 19, 2023
It should be worth noting that a deal is indeed plausible, but that would also mean Golden State is set to dish out a luxury tax somewhere in the range of $500 million.
Despite all that went down with Green last season, most notably his locker room punch-up with Jordan Poole, the veteran remains the team’s undisputed locker room leader and their defensive presence. He was instrumental in the Warriors winning four of their titles and that gives the front office every reason to bring him back.
It remains to be seen if Green and the Warriors can work out a deal that would see the former remain in the Bay next season. For now, the team has made their stance abundantly clear.
JJ Redick Believes The Warriors Cannot Win A Championship Without Draymond Green
Prior to Green declining his player option, former player-turned-analyst JJ Redick explained how pivotal the forward is to the Warriors’ team.
Speaking on ESPN’s First Take. “Draymond is so important to everything they do on both sides of the basketball, defensively, specifically. What we saw last year was a non-elite defense from the Golden State Warriors,” he said.
“They get beat at the point of attack too much, they foul too much, they hovered around 15th all season long in defensive rating, and yet, Draymond Green had another elite defensive season.”
Redick further added: “He is the anchor of that defense. When the Golden State Warriors have contended, it’s because they had a great defense. You lose him, with really no way to replace him, you’re not winning an NBA championship.”
Green averaged 8.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 6.8 APG during the 2022-23 regular season. And safe to say, the numbers don’t tell the full story. Green brings more than just on-court prowess to the team, and that will be something the front office will consider.
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