"Tune in at the end of the season, we'll see what happens" - Golden State Warriors GM asks fans to just enjoy season, refuses to say if it's last of 'Big 3' era
The Golden State Warriors won their fourth NBA title in eight seasons with their triumph against the Boston Celtics in June. Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green form the core group that makes them the NBA's most successful franchise over the last decade.
Warriors fans will surely want more of the same, but there are obstacles along the way.
Firstly, there was unexpected controversy among the players. Just over ten days ago, Draymond Green punched Jordan Poole during a training session. That created an unpleasant situation for what has been one of the NBA's most model franchises in the last few years.
Although Green issued an apology to Poole and the Warriors have fined the forward, several observers believe tension will linger.
Shocking video shows Draymond Green violently attacking Jordan Poole, viciously punching him to the ground right in the middle of a team practice ... video obtained by TMZ Sports. tmz.me/6Cvlxeo
Linked to the altercation between Green and Poole is Green's contract extension. While Poole and Andrew Wiggins received significant contract extensions from the Dubs last week, Green heads into the 2022-23 campaign with an uncertain future.
The former Defensive Player of the Year is signed for the upcoming season and has a player option for next season. But the 4-time All-Star would have ideally liked to ink a 4-year maximum contract extension before the start of the season.
Connor Letourneau wrote of the situation in the San Francisco Chronicle.
"Green didn’t just punch a player last week; he punched a 23-year-old whom the organization views as a potential All-Star in the making. Any chance of Green landing the max contract he covets evaporated the moment video of that violent blow went viral.
"Had Poole not approved his suiting up on Opening Day, Green would probably have had to watch Tuesday night’s ring ceremony from home."
According to Letourneau, Green is not pleased with the new situation. He may have some leverage with the Golden State Warriors via the player option he holds for next season. However, Letourneau added:
"Other teams have long felt that Green has more value to the Warriors than he would elsewhere. With that TMZ video likely lingering in people’s minds for some time, he might have to stick things out in the Bay Area — awkwardness be damned."
Bob Myers says Golden State Warriors fans should just enjoy upoming season
Besides the Draymond Green situation facing the Warriors, Klay Thompson also has only two years left on his contract. Thompson, who missed nearly two-and-a-half seasons of NBA basketball, will turn 33 in February next year.
Keeping his injury history in mind, it is uncertain whether the Golden State Warriors will re-sign him as well beyond his current contract.
One man who remains unfazed by the Golden State Warriors' problems of plenty is their GM Bob Myers. He shared his only message to Warriors fans on the Willard and Dibs podcast.
“I would say to that fan enjoy the season. Tune in at the end of the season… we’ll see what happens.”
Bob Myers on what he’d say to fans that are worried this is the last dance with the big 3 (Draymond, Steph, Klay):
“I would say to that fan enjoy the season. Tune in at the end of the season… we’ll see what happens.”
(via @WillardAndDibs)
The full text of Connor Letourneau's article can be read here.