NBA News Today: Draymond Green accepts he won't be with the Warriors forever, Luka Doncic refuses to mention all-time ranking for LeBron James, and more
The NBA has some interesting storylines today. Golden State Warriors All-Star forward Draymond Green has accepted that his time with the Warriors could be coming to an end.
Dallas Mavericks superstar guard Luka Doncic isn’t interested in ranking all-time great NBA players, including LA Lakers star forward LeBron James.
On that note, here is the latest news from around the NBA as of Jan. 16, 2023.
Draymond Green accepts he won't be with the Warriors forever
It has long been speculated that Draymond Green and the Warriors could be headed towards a separation. The reason is that the Warriors can’t afford to keep their core together long-term after extending Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins.
Retaining Green could reportedly cost upwards of $400 million, including taxes, which would not be possible, according to Warriors owner Joe Lacob. As a result, Green appears to have accepted the fact that his days in Golden State could be numbered.
During a recent interview with Taylor Rooks, Green was asked if it’s hard for him to imagine a future where he’s no longer a Warrior.
"No," Green said. "Quite frankly, the writing's on the wall. I understand the business. We tend to get into this of someone owes us something because of what we've accomplished. You'd be an idiot to walk around feeling that way.
“I feel like you're just setting yourself up for failure. You're setting yourself up for heartbreak. You're setting yourself up for disappointment. As opposed to saying, 'No, let me learn this business.’
"If you don't get to know the business, then you can be blindsided and be, like, 'Oh man, everything I've done I'd thought I'd be there forever.’ I would love to be (with the Warriors forever).
“(But) I understand the luxury tax. I understand you've got these young guys and contracts up and they have to be paid. I understand all of those things. And so, just for me, that's what I mean by the writing's on the wall."
“Quite frankly, the writing’s on the wall."
Draymond Green on the possibility of not being a Warrior 👀
(via @TaylorRooks) https://t.co/dzIOaq5e2I
Draymond Green has a $27.6 million player option for the 2023-2024 NBA season. So he could opt out of the last year of his deal to pursue a long-term contract this summer. If he does, it looks like there’s a very good chance that it will not be with Golden State.
Green, 32, is averaging 7.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks per game on 49.6% shooting this season.
Luka Doncic refuses to mention his all-time NBA ranking for LeBron James
Many NBA fans enjoy engaging in debates and conversations about the rankings of all-time great players. However, Luka Doncic is not interested in joining in on the conversation. When asked about LeBron James’ all-time ranking, Doncic declined to answer. Instead, he spoke about how he just enjoys watching greatness.
"I'm not doing the rankings stuff, man,” Doncic said. "I just enjoy great basketball players. That's it. He's an amazing player, an exceptional player, but I'm not doing the rankings stuff," Doncic continued.
Luka Doncic on his all-time ranking for LeBron James in NBA history: "I'm not doing the rankings stuff, man. I just enjoy great basketball players. That's it. He's an amazing player, an exceptional player, but I'm not doing the rankings stuff." https://t.co/FtAyuMWGWu
For more on Doncic’s comments, click here.
Veteran free agent big men impress during workouts for Lakers
The LA Lakers worked out two NBA veteran big men in former four-time All-Star DeMarcus Cousins and nine-year vet Meyers Leonard on Friday. Both Cousins and Leonard are seen as possible options to improve the Lakers’ spacing in the frontcourt. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Lakers coach Darvin Ham was impressed by both players.
"They both looked great," Ham said. "Whether or not we're able to do something with them is a different story. But we're constantly trying to kick the tires on different scenarios,” Ham continued.
DeMarcus Cousins played for both Milwaukee and Denver last season. Cousins averaged 9.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.8 3-pointers per game on 46.0% shooting over 48 total games.
Meyers Leonard last played in the 2020-2021 NBA season for Miami. However, he was only able to appear in three games that season due to injuries and a controversy involving antisemitism that got him suspended. Leonard was then traded to OKC, waived shortly after, and has been out of the NBA since.
In his last healthy season in the 2019-2020 season, Leonard averaged 6.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 3-pointers per game in 51 games. He did so while shooting 50.9% and 41.4% from three.
It remains to be seen if the Lakers will sign either player. However, any signing will likely be on a 10-day contract as recent Lakers signing Sterling Brown’s 10-day contract has expired. Meanwhile, Darvin Ham previously mentioned that the Lakers are interested in giving different players a shot on 10-day deals.
Knicks want to do right by Derrick Rose
The New York Knicks have been active in trade talks lately. This comes as Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has removed a few serviceable veteran players from the team’s rotation in favor of going younger. One of those players is former MVP and long-time Thibodeau favorite Derrick Rose.
However, Thibodeau and the Knicks still have a high level of respect for the 34-year-old guard. As a result, they would like to trade him to a good situation, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
“Sources say that New York is open to finding a new home via trade for former MVP Derrick Rose, but only if it can, as one insider put it, ‘do right by’ the longtime Thibodeau favorite,” Stein said.
Through 26 games this season, Rose is averaging 5.8 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game on 39.4% shooting.
Jakob Poeltl drawing trade interest, could leave the Spurs in free agency
San Antonio Spurs big man Jakob Poeltl is reportedly still receiving a lot of interest in the trade market. However, if he isn’t traded, he may still leave the Spurs in free agency, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
During a recent appearance on NBA Countdown, Wojnarowski discussed Poeltl's future in San Antonio.
“There’s a lot of interest in Poeltl and there are a lot of teams I think for San Antonio they’re going to make the kind of offers that they may want to move him,” Wojnarowski said.
"But he can do a four-year, $58 million extension during the season. He’s going to get more than that in free agency,” Wojnarowski continued.
Wojnarowski then added that teams may start increasing their offers for the 27-year-old big man as we approach the Feb. 9 trade deadline.
“So I think for San Antonio, you saw them do it with Dejounte Murray… they got an overwhelming offer from Atlanta, they moved him. I think you’re going to see at the trade deadline some really significant offers,” Wojnarowski said.
Poeltl is averaging 12.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.2 blocks per game on 63.2% shooting this season.