Draymond Green came into the 2022-23 NBA season with one singular focus: winning another NBA championship.
Unfortunately, that train quickly skidded off the tracks before the year could even truly commence.
It all started with Green’s inexplicable decision to assault teammate Jordan Poole. That move, coupled with teammates taking sides and all the drama that surrounded it, has led to lasting ramifications.
Green’s recent comments on his current relationship with Poole were telling.
As a result of all the chaos, rumors began to circulate that Golden State would be open to trading Green. The Los Angeles Lakers, for various reasons, were floated as a potential landing spot.
This week, Green addressed that speculation bluntly.
“People can say what they want,” he told Marc J. Spears. “I’m also not really one to react much to what one may say. I react to things when I want to react to it. I don’t react to things just because somebody said it.”
Green is generally a pretty upfront guy. Whether he is settling the Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate once and for all, criticizing Poole despite their issues or naming his all-time NBA starting five – he tends to keep it pretty real.
So if he is throwing cold water on the rumors of him going to the Lakers, he deserves the benefit of the doubt.
That said, his current contract situation is also tough to ignore.
Green is making $28.5 million for this season. Next year, he will make $27.5 million if he opts in to the final year of his deal. After that – he is an unrestricted free agent.
The Raiders deserve a playoff spot on the strength of Mark Davis’ game alone. https://t.co/d7fdMLsban
— Game 7 (@game7__) December 5, 2022
Thus far the Warriors have shown zero interest in extending him long-term at the price tag he clearly views himself as being worth.
Will that change in the foreseeable future? Will a team like the Lakers, who has some pretty hefty deals of their own on the cap, really want to pay him big money?
An answer to all those questions and many more will likely become more apparent in the coming weeks and months.
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Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
