The Golden State Warriors are fresh off of their fourth NBA Championship in the last eight seasons, defeating the Boston Celtics this year in six games. An extended dynasty is certainly within the realm of possibility, as the Warriors always seem to be able to plug and play people into the role-playing holes on the roster.
Last season, the likes of Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica and Gary Payton II all played integral roles in the rotation but will need to be replaced. Porter signed with the Toronto Raptors, Payton left for the Portland Trail Blazers and Bjelica signed overseas.
The one thing all three had in common was that they wanted to remain with the Warriors, but it wasn’t fiscally possible. They received more lucrative deals elsewhere and it is something that Golden State is going to have to combat in the coming years.
Owner Joe Lacob has never been shy about spending money. The team wins, and he has been willing to pay exorbitant luxury tax totals to retain those rosters. But, even the Golden State Warriors have a line they cannot cross and that will be put to the test, beginning this offseason.
Draymond Green is eligible for an extension on August 3rd. But he isn’t the only player that is up for a new deal, as Jordan Poole is also eligible for his rookie extension this offseason. Next summer, it will be Andrew Wiggins hitting unrestricted free agency and Klay Thompson eligible for an extension.
There are going to be some very difficult decisions to make and the first one is Green. According to some reports shared by The Athletic earlier this week, he is seeking a max extension and believes that he is worth the price tag. However, there are no plans for the Warriors to extend him such an offer right now.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: 1 Major Reason Draymond Green Could Leave Golden State Warriors
That is the route that Golden State has always taken when it comes to extensions. Even Stephen Curry had to wait until he was in the final year of his deal to sign his extension; Green technically has two, but the final season is a player option for the 2023-24 season.
If it was possible, Lacob and Bob Myers would sign everyone to deals that they want, but that isn’t realistic. So, they will have to pick and choose which players to commit to. While they will take their time, Green should ultimately get the contract that he is seeking.
There is a risk in waiting, but we have seen how good Green can be when he is motivated. In seasons that he played with Team USA during the summer, he came into Golden State Warriors camp in excellent shape, motivated to continue playing at a high level.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: 1 Major Reason Draymond Green Could Leave Golden State Warriors
Recently, he played with a chip on his shoulder after people began questioning whether he was still the most versatile defender in the league. Green takes pride in his performance on that end of the court and played at the level of a Defensive Player of the Year candidate before getting injured.
There are certainly some shortcomings, as we saw during the postseason that Green can sometimes be a major negative on the offensive side of the ball. But once he was removed from the game by Steve Kerr, he picked up his performance to ensure that it didn’t happen again.
This team goes as Green does. While he may not have the most raw talent on the team and doesn’t put up the best stats, he is arguably the most important player on the roster. He is the heart and soul of the team, their emotional leader. Without him, they don’t play with the same fire and desire.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: 1 Major Reason Draymond Green Could Leave Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors would also risk alienating Stephen Curry, who believes that he, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green come as a package deal. If Green isn’t signed to an extension, it is something that would certainly rub Curry the wrong way.
Meyers has to do what is best for the franchise and keep an eye on the future. There is some excellent young talent on the roster that they are hoping will carry the team into the future. That future will also include Green for at least a few years, as a contract will be worked out. Draymond Green is too important to the team’s success and letting him walk would be a blow the team may not be able to recover from.
