NBA insider drops bombshell on Draymond Green's status on Warriors amid Klay Thompson's potential exit
Draymond Green has had a tumultuous career with the Golden State Warriors. He arguably cost them a championship with his 2016 Finals suspension for a groin kick. He punched former teammate Jordan Poole in the face. Green also reportedly got into a verbal altercation with Kevin Durant in 2018 when the two were teammates, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
He was also suspended for his on-court behavior this season. Now, ESPN's NBA insider Zach Lowe reported that the Warriors have a decision to make regarding Green, who has been getting on the nerves of people in the organization.
"They have a decision to make on Green, whose volatility has worn on several within the organization, sources said," Lowe said in the report.
Lowe did not specify if that meant players, coaches or front-office personnel.
Green and the Warriors tumbled out of the postseason by getting blown out by the Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament. Golden State will miss the playoffs for the third time in five seasons.
Can the Warriors trade Draymond Green?
Draymond Green is still a solid defender and does a lot of the little things in the Warriors' on-court systems. He is also owed $77 million over the next three years after the Warriors signed him to a new deal before this season.
That contract may be difficult to deal with as Green is 34 years old. He also proved this season that he still has a baggage of potential suspensions and plenty of technical fouls.
The Warriors could also trade two or three of their first-round picks, which they own and received in the Chris Paul/Jordan Poole trade. The team might package them with a young rising star like Jonathan Kuminga for a notable veteran this summer.
Kuminga greatly raised his stock in the latter half of the season. He is also eligible for an extension this summer.
The Warriors will also have to make a decision on Andrew Wiggins. He has three years and $90 million left on his deal and did not play up to his contract this season. Golden State may have to staple Kuminga or more picks to move Wiggins and his hefty deal.
The Warriors do not have cap space. They also do not have a ton of roster depth to make a lot of huge moves.
Klay Thompson is likely out the door, and the Warriors will struggle to match any expensive offer he receives in free agency. Thompson could get a large offer from a middle-tier team looking to make a splash and acquire shooting.
Thompson would likely have to take a discount to return to Golden State. According to sources from Zach Lowe, the two sides have not discussed a new deal at all.