Throughout the NBA offseason, there was some chatter about the future of Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green. He was eligible for a contract extension this offseason and is seeking a max contract. However, that isn’t something that the Warriors were willing to offer, at least right now.
Golden State does not sign players to extensions early, evident by the fact that Stephen Curry had to wait for his. If Curry waited, Green certainly would be made to wait as well. Alas, things have gotten a little more complicated recently.
There was a physical altercation at Golden State’s practice last week in which Green was involved. He struck teammate Jordan Poole in the face and a video of the incident went viral the day after.
Green’s future with the Warriors was already cloudy and that incident certainly won’t help. There is a chance that he is playing his last season with the organization, as he has a player option for the 2023-24 season.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
One team that has been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Green is the Los Angeles Lakers. Always connected to stars, it should come as no surprise that they are linked to Green, especially given the relationship that he has with LeBron James. However, as Michael Scotto shared in a recent episode of the HoopsHype Podcast, the Lakers could just be being used as leverage.
“There have been rumors out there circulating about Draymond Green and the Los Angeles Lakers. Obviously, he has a relationship with LeBron James. Some in the Warriors’ organization I’ve spoken to aren’t concerned about it. There’s a belief from some around the league it could be a negotiating tactic to get more money in extension talks with the Warriors, and maybe LeBron is trying to weaken the competition in the West. The Lakers have always been connected to star players like Draymond and Kyrie Irving, looking ahead to next summer’s offseason.”
There would certainly be motivation on Los Angeles’ part to attempt and weaken the defending NBA Champions by signing Green, who is the heart and soul of the team. They know that the roster needs upgrades and the 2023 offseason is their best chance to add some pieces.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Creating leverage is a tactic that is used regularly as people try and position themselves in a way to earn as much money as possible. If the Warriors aren’t going to give Green the max contract that he is seeking, he will look elsewhere for it and the Lakers could very well present him with the kind of offer he wants.
