Draymond Green opted out of his $27.6 million player option with the Warriors and there are a few teams with their eye on the veteran forward.
One team that NBA insiders suggested for Green is the Kings, since they traded Richaun Holmes and the number 24 overall pick to Dallas on draft night, freeing up over $30 million.
Plus, Kings coach Mike Brown used to be the assistant in Golden State and forged a close relationship with Green.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst’s thoughts on draft night certainly got Sacramento fans’ attention.
“The Kings can now go hunting for Draymond Green if they wish,” Windhorst said.“And that would be extraordinarily interesting because it is the exact, the exact, type of player they need…You know, it would be interesting with Sabonis. That would be an interesting first practice.”
Another team that was looking to land Green was the Grizzlies, before they acquired 2022 DPOY Marcus Smart in a three-team trade, NBA insider Marc Stein believes.
“League sources say that the Grizzlies nonetheless had strong interest in Green and were plotting to make some sort of run at him,” Stein reported. “…I’m told that the Grizzlies’ pre-Smart interest in Green was genuine. And it’s fascinating to simply consider the idea of Green engaging Memphis in free agency conversations after the teams’ past battles.”
Green himself even added to speculation when he was seen lapping up the European summer with LeBron in France but cold water was thrown on him joining the purple and gold.
Former NBA player Iman Shumpert used to match up against the fiery forward and says Green plays a vital role for the Dubs and the team’s danger “wear off a little bit” without him.
“I never felt like he was going to not know the coverages. … He was barking everything out that we’re doing. Somebody that pay attention to detail like that, watch film like that, they’re very important,” Shumpert said on No Chill podcast.
Despite all the noise, the Warriors have remained eager to re-sign the 33-year-old as part of their new-look veteran core that now includes Chris Paul.
This has been backed up by insiders in the past few days.
“I continue to hear nothing but strong confidence emanating from the Bay Area that an agreement on a multi-year deal for Green to stay right where he’s always been is forthcoming,” NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Sunday.