Draymond Green Opting Into Final Contract Year Looks Likely, Per Woj
With Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole now having finalized extensions, the Warriors have a much clearer picture of what their future will be like for the next 5 years. There is one more extension situation that we all thought they’d have to take care of, but according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, that might not end up being the case for another two seasons:
It’s become obvious that Draymond Green is likely the odd man out if the Warriors aren’t willing to spend almost half a billion in tax dollars to keep him around. But if Green opts in to his final year of his contract, they may not have a choice. Green would essentially secure himself another payday on his current contract and hit unrestricted free agency after the 2023-2024 season, where he would have a lot more options. Initially it was thought that Green may opt out and test his options this summer, but after the practice fiasco where he punched Jordan Poole, it’s likely he won’t be able to secure the same value he initially projected to have.
After the 2023-2024 season in unrestricted free agency, Draymond will be 34 years old. While we’ve seen some better longevity out of modern NBA players (specifically Steph Curry and LeBron James), Green’s brand of play may not lend well to his ability to extend his career. He’s already shown a few shortcomings, and while he’s coming off a season that could have netted him another Defensive Player of the Year award if not for extended injuries, it remains to be seen how much of that production can remain consistent in light of his other weaknesses.
Make no mistake, however, that Draymond Green has been an important part of the Warriors dynasty, one they likely wouldn’t have accomplished so much without. It’s possible that they can even bring both him and Klay Thompson back with a projected salary cap spike coming in 2025 once the league inks their new broadcasting deal. Another two seasons of at-minimum solid play and veteran experience from him will be important in helping the younger guys grow, so while Golden State will have to shell out plenty of tax dollars, an extension of their dynasty could very well be worth it.
(Photo credit: Steven Senne / Associated Press)