The Golden State Warriors are in the midst of their most important offseason in years, as they’re trying to continue their NBA dynasty by re-tooling the squad around Stephen Curry.
Draymond Green’s free agency decision looms large over the franchise, as the star will hit the open market once free agency starts on July 1. The four-time champion is extremely valuable to GSW, as Iman Shumpert explained the value Draymond brings to the Warriors in a recent interview.
“They have spurts of greatness, all of them individually. But there’s something very consistent about someone who doesn’t have to make shots but is very stable… When they have ups and downs, I think he’s there and even keel for it, even if they don’t understand it at all… I never felt like he was going to not know the coverage, it felt like he studied us. He was barking everything out that we were doing. Somebody that pays attention to detail like that, they’re very important and add a lot of value.”
"I never felt like he was going to not know the coverages…He was barking everything out that we're doing. Somebody that pay attention to detail like that, they're very important."
Iman Shumpert on Draymond Green's value to the Warriors
(via @fuboSports)pic.twitter.com/dQ8ZFLrMSY
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 26, 2023
Draymond is reportedly being targeted by the Sacramento Kings in free agency, with the franchise opening up over $30 million in cap by trading Richaun Holmes and their first-round pick away. Despite that, most people expect Green to return to the Warriors on a long-term contract.
Draymond Green Is More Important Than Ever
Green leaving as a free agent after they traded Jordan Poole away for Chris Paul would be a disaster for the Warriors. In addition to cap management, it seemed very obvious that the Warriors had to punt on the long-term potential of Poole due to his off-court attitude, something that Green tried to deal with by punching Poole last summer. Now that Poole is gone, the locker room can unite behind Green’s voice once again.
The Warriors used Draymond in a variety of roles last season, even moving him to the bench to help the bench unity play more methodical basketball. His IQ is sublime and he has spent over 9 years as the Warriors’ defensive anchor. Losing Green and not being able to replace him due to their cap situation would essentially mean that the Warriors’ road to becoming a contender before Curry retires becomes that much longer.
Draymond’s box score impact was minimal this season, averaging 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in the season and 9.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in the playoffs.
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