Longtime Warriors forward Draymond Green holds a $27.7MM player option for the 2026/27 season, giving him the ability to opt out of his contract and test the unrestricted free agent market in search of a change of scenery. However, league and team sources don’t expect him to take that route, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
As Slater explains, the expectation is that Green will either exercise his option, locking in a $27.7MM salary for next season, or turn down that option in order to negotiate a multiyear deal with Golden State that features a lower first-year cap hit. Taking the latter route, Slater writes, would likely increase the odds of the 36-year-old finishing his career with the Warriors.
Slater’s update on Green’s contract situation comes within a larger profile on the former Defensive Player of the Year and his place within the organization as he nears the end of his 14th season in the NBA. Although Green didn’t discuss his next contract with ESPN, he did address a number of other topics, including the trade rumors involving him earlier this year.
The Warriors reportedly pursued Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo at February’s trade deadline and almost certainly would’ve included Green in their package in order to match Antetokounmpo’s maximum-salary contract. Green was aware of the situation, and while he admits he was initially irked by the idea, he understood the team’s thinking and quickly accepted it.
“I’m a human being,” Green said. “There was a second of me that felt like, ‘Damn, they really going to do that to me?’ … (But) I understand this business probably (as) good as any player. I understand like, yo, this is Giannis Antetokounmpo. They’re not just about to trade me for a bag of peanuts. It would’ve almost been a point of pride.
“I’ll be honest though. I didn’t want to play for Milwaukee.”
League sources tell Slater that if the Warriors and Bucks had made a trade involving Giannis and Draymond, Green had the Los Angeles teams – the Lakers and Clippers – on his radar as possible landing spots he could be rerouted to. However, it doesn’t sound at this point as if being involved in those trade rumors will spur him to seek an exit from Golden State this summer.
Whether or not Green’s Warriors career continues beyond 2025/26, he remains confident that he can be an impact player, especially on defense. While he admitted that he’s “not as fast” as he was and doesn’t “jump as high” as he used to, Green still believes he’s among the NBA’s most impactful defenders, placing only Victor Wembanyama above himself, according to Slater.
“I feel better defensively than I ever have,” Green said. “The numbers won’t show with straight up steals and blocks. Stocks, which is what people look at. But I just do it a different way. I can’t get the block shot all the time anymore, but I can cover it. I may not come up with the steal, but I make sure (the action is) gridlocked.”
Green is technically already eligible for a veteran contract extension that would replace his ’26/27 player option, so there’s nothing stopping him and the Warriors from discussing his next deal sooner rather than later.
During the Nelson years, the Warriors had plenty of firepower, but no defense. His work on that end made the Splash Brothers possible. Bring him back at a lower number and let mentor the next generation.
Or let Green opt in and use him as salary filler in addition to their first round pick this year to bring in a veteran that’ll actually contribute right away
Nelson is old as the hills and probably happy on the couch or pottering around the yard on the end of a doobie playing fetch with the dog.
But, I’m sure he wishes he had a Draymond when he was coaching.
I also like making $27 million dollars a year in the twilight of my career.
I see 2 years is all he has left in the tank.
I can see the Warriors leaving Greymond’s contract alone and letting him play out the year and expire with the other big money deals.
Then the Warriors figure out the roster of two years from now along the way as things develop.
Only way he gets extended is a pay cut like 2 years for $40 million which gives warriors more money to. Spend next year.
@ARC2, IMO, no way they commit $20M to Draymond in 2027-28. Remember Klay Thompson?
This season, if healthy, a $10M/yr player, at best, at 36 years old. He’s a vet minimum player in 2 years, at 38 years old.
No way I’d go higher than 2 years at $32M ($16M/yr). I doubt Draymond would do it, though.
No team would pay him more. He will opt in.
I would trade him for a bag of peanuts.
Too high. How about a bag of dust bunnies from under my refrigerator?
Draymond’s passing has also fallen off a cliff. “Draymond throws ball into stands” is as common as “2 free throws for Shai” these days.
Dray has a 0.2 VORP this year. He has been good for 1.3-1.9 since 2018-19. Huge falloff. The guy is cooked and Kerr should stop playing him so much, especially when Al and KP are better than him right now.
Next year should be Draymond’s finale, he will likely be very unplayable next year at age 36, like most NBA vets. It would be a terrible idea to extend him. Unless he plays better somehow, which is unlikely. He is way more likely to get a serious injury.
@daveyj, you nailed it.
Steve Kerr, sadly, disagrees. I’d hoped we were done with the “fading dynasty” deal, but when you hear Kerr talk about “running it all back one more year”, you gotta think he’s got Steph’s support.
Kerr says he wants to run it back with Draymond (37), Horford (40), and Porzingis.
And KD, Barnes and many, many more players would come back or come to the Warriors if Kerr was not the coach. So the onus is on Lacob to move on from the most clueless man in the NBA as of 2026.
> So the onus is on Lacob to move on from the most
> clueless man in the NBA as of 2026.
It’s an interesting decision for Lacob.
Kerr says he wants to run it back, despite the overwhelming evidence going geriatric doesn’t work. Kerr is about squeezing the last drop from the retiring, not moving to the next generation.
Does Lacob keep on running from Father Time, postponing the inevitable rebuild to contend for a play-in slot in 2026-27?
Or, with next season a lost cause, does Lacob start the rebuild with Steph in tow? That would mean a new coach with a new plan: trade all older assets (other than Steph) for draft capital, and commit to tanking to get a high lottery pick.
Can you feel it yet?
If Green Opts in maybe you flip him and Porzingis and the first to Milwaukee for Turner Kuzma and Porter Jr or Trent Jr
Turner gives the Warriors the center they need
Kuzma and Porter Jr or Trent Jr add bench scoring
Warriors get immediate help for an aging Curry and Butler plus replace Moody with Kuzma
Curry
Butler
Kuzma
PF
Turner
Bench possibly
Porter Jr or Trent Jr
A new C like Biyombo for rim protection
Possibly sign Alvarado if he opts out of NY
Get some forward depth
Milwaukee kicks off their rebuild getting warriors first round pick sell off Porzingis and Giannis for picks
Why would the warriors want the Bucks cast offs?? Turner, Kuzma, and Porter are overpaid. Bucks would never gets 1st rounder for any of them.
And Green and Porzingis aren’t overpaid?
The first round pick is for having to take back Green and Porzingis who have about 1/3 or less value than Turner Kuzma and Porter Jr do
Turner is a starting caliber center that can space the floor oh and is healthy
Kuzma and Porter Jr are more than capable bench pieces
Porzingis is made of glass won’t last and Green is worth 2 mill not 27 mill
Why give a draft pick in a deep draft? Why would the Warriors want Kuzma? Biyombo can’t hold down a roster spot.
Cause warriors
1. Blow at developing guys last like 15 years haven’t developed a long term piece since Barnes draft back in 2012
2. Steph and Butler are getting older you want to pair them with win now pieces or a project?
3. Kuzma offers bench scoring which they need but immediately replacing Moody in the interim. Thought you could just offer Green and the first for Turner but doesn’t really solve their bench woes or replacing Moody woes.
4. Biyombo is cheap something warriors have to consider when making moves given their current finances and numerous holes to fill
Find a true C
Find a back up C
Find Moody replacement
Find a better bench esp front court and wing depth
Find more consistent backup pg
Moody and Santos are coming along nicely. Kuzma and Biyombo are not longterm pieces.
“Coming along nicely”
You waited 5 years for
12/3/2 from your starting SG in Moody?
You passed on Sengun Murphy Jalen Johnson for Moody
Being a 55th pick Santos is a nice depth piece but he’s hardly a long term piece. They can do better. In the last 15 years if you’re celebrating Moody and Santos your franchise is in deep trouble development wise
To develop players, you need high draft choices and a team that sucks. Young players need minutes to make mistakes and lose games. Moody came to a that was trying to defend a title. How do you expect him to get minutes. Kuzma wouldn’t help the Warriors. He would only slow the rebuild down.
“ To develop players, you need high draft choices and a team that sucks.”
No you don’t.
You need to be smart about who you draft. You don’t need high draft choices. And you need to actually be good at developing
2024 wells, George, A Mitchell, Filipkowski Collier were later 1sts even 2nds
2023 George JJJ Gg Sensabaugh Camara Clowney all later 1st 2nd
2022 Nembhard Rollins Eason Braun Kessler
2021 Murphy Thomas Johnson Grimes Dosunmu Aldama Jones A Wiggins
2020 Maxey Quickley Bane Bey McDaniels Pritchard I Joe
There been guys found later in drafts that have become solid contributors even solid starters some stars in there as well
You don’t need high draft picks
How many of them were on teams that won titles? The number gets really small.
Poole, Looney, Post, Santos, Moody, Podziemski were all drafted by the Warriors and have been contributors.
Adding more restrictions cause you’re proven wrong just means you’re moving goal posts
“You need high draft picks to find good players and bad teams”
You were wrong cause there’s been plenty of guys drafted outside the lottery in 1st and 2nd that have made at worst solid rotational first off the bench pieces to at best all star level careers
Now you want to add “well how many have won titles” cause your other argument didn’t work out
Way to change “bad teams” to “only title winners”
Only 1 team wins it all every year. Are you suggesting Anthony Edwards isn’t a good player cause he hasn’t won a title? Lmao yeah go with that argument
Are you suggesting Kevin Looney is better than Nikola Jokic cause Looney has more titles? Lmao yup stick with that argument.
You’re saying Jordan Poole is better than Tyrese Maxey and Immanuel Quickley? Maybe at getting punched in the face by your own teammate but no he’s not
You are a bit confused there. You brought up a bunch of players that had contributed to their teams. Poole and Looney helped the Warriors win a title. Poole was almost out of the league; it took Looney 7 seasons to get there. I didn’t compare them to Maxey or Jokic. You did that. Oh, the Nuggets kept Jokic overseas and they weren’t in the playoffs his first two. Which is my point. You need to give young players time to grow. Moody won a title his first season. The Warriors bench sucked when they tried to defend it.
Let’s recap
You: Why give a draft pick in a deep draft
Me: warriors suck at developing talent since 2012 haven’t developed any long term pieces
Also win now mode means trade the pick before Curry Butler get older
You: Moody and Santos are coming along nicely. Kuzma and Biyombo are not longterm pieces.
Moody took 5 years
Santos is a bench piece
Never said kuzma and biyombo were long term I said win now pieces
You: To develop players, you need high draft choices and a team that sucks.
Me: no you don’t good teams can find good pieces anywhere in the draft, if you’re good and show you can play you get minutes regardless of record team etc. only real thing blocking you is someone better ahead of you but you can still carve out a rotational role early in your career
You: How many of them were on teams that won titles? The number gets really small.
Poole, Looney, Post, Santos, Moody, Podziemski
Me: titles are irrelevant when it comes to finding quality players
If that’s the case you’re arguing
POD is better than Edwards
Looney is better than Jokic
Moody is equal to Anunoby
Poole is better than Maxey and better than Murray
Also going back to whole long term pieces
Poole lasted 4 years
Looney saw action in 9
Post Santos could be replaced if Warriors actually had money
Pod been there 3 years and could get moved in a deal elsewhere esp if they bring in veteran pieces cheaply
So you’re celebrating a systems C and rotational pieces…..kind of undermines your whole need high draft picks to develop guys cause none of them were high draft picks
Why do you believe that Looney is better than Jokic? Do you really believe that a team of 1st year players can win a NBA title. It can’t be done. Why do you believe that?
KP is a free agent. Turner is way over paid. Bucks overpaid him to make Giannis happy. Turner has 3 years more. Kuzma is overpaid too. Rather keep Green than overpay for 2 players. Warriors 1st round pick will be better than anyone they bring in
Sign and trade exists
KP is only necessary if they want to expand the deal to fill as many holes as possible
Green and the 1st isn’t bringing back much as your only assets (salary matching and the first being your only true asset worth a damn).
Sure it will. Not if you draft like you have been the last 15 years. Watch them over draft Aday Mara at 11 cause defense and hoping his offense comes along in the nba
KP is a UFA they can’t flip him unless he actually wants a sign and trade.
Probably the only way he actually gets money on a 1 or 2 year deal
Otherwise he’s settling for MLE somewhere in the 10-20 range give his health history
Hopefully he tests retirement
Dra has a player option for 27 mill next year. And no team is taking that on unless you attach a pick to it. So give Dra his props and deal with him another year. He is a true Warrior. And can pass that on to all the young players. Best thing that can happen to Warriors. Is they land Lendeborg in draft. He can learn a lot from Dra. Can actually extend Dra’s career for another two yrs in GS. At a decent price.
27 is too much. But the payroll is already too high. Porzingis makes too much as well. Curry could have taken a pay cut. Butler certainly was not going to. But the payroll doesn’t really matter. What matters is they need players who can flat out ball.
Losing Butler tanked the season. Will he come back and be something ? KP will he stay healthy next thru the season & a postseason run if they make it that far ? Curry will be twilight no doubt. Dray is toast unless they really play for something that motivates him, as we’ve seen.
They are really going to have to move some pieces around this off-season. Losing Moody hurts, he was really coming around. But they already have 3 point shooters off the bench who play defense. His loss won’t be monumental.
I like the Porter Jr idea. And of course still take Giannis. All Dreams.
If the Nuggets owners decide to move on from Joker in the same way the Bucks owners have with Giannis (trust no billionaire), any team could feasibly get Giannis and Joker together and ruin the league. That team could easily be the Warriors, the #1 highest valued franchise in the NBA.
Nuggets are not getting rid of the joker. He will retire there.
Giannis said the exact same thing. It’s not up to the players, arc. It’s the ownership.
Why in the world would the Nuggets owner want to move on from Jokic?
Why in the world would the Bucks owner want to move on from Giannis?
They are rich people. Rich people are very stupid.
JayRyder- Butler had his surgery just 4.5 weeks ago, best case he plays the last 25 games of 2026-27.
But he’d be 37. No player in NBA history has returned from an ACL after 33 yrs old (Joe Ingles). And he’s had a lot of damage to that same knee already.
Not impossible Jimmy makes a significant contribution at the end of next season, but not likely.
Test the?
What market…
Apparently Milwaukee want him, lmfao at this guy thinking he’s a main piece in a Giannis trade.
One of the worst contracts in the league at this point. $27 mil for his productivity is a killer.
Draymond isn’t the worst player in the league, he helps any contender off the bench. He is particularly a sound fit on his hometown Pistons as a bench piece who is no stranger to big games.
He’s a bench warmer for any contender talent wise…
If he had a history of being a good locker room presence he might have a case for a young team…
But he is one that smart FOs would keep away from their teams… The Kings or Wizards are chances because they like making bad bets…
I don’t agree with that, Draymond has always been the polar opposite off the court to his on-court and media persona. He’s always been a great clubhouse guy – the Poole incident of course, happened on the court, where Draymond pushes the boundaries of what’s legal and what isn’t.
Steve Kerr told Poole to say something crazy to Draymond, Kerr created that whole incident.
TRIPLE SINGLE. Get the same productivity as waiving him for that price these days.
Not confident in himself?