Draymond Green and LeBron James suiting up together on the same team. That possibility exists this summer. But without the Golden State Warriors in the picture, it would cost Green roughly $24 million of his own cash. And everyone who knows Draymond Green knows he likes his money.
Green declined his $27.7 million player option for next season. That move was always about flexibility for the Warriors, not about walking away. Anthony Slater, a Warriors insider, laid it out on ESPN recently.
“$27.7 million. Draymond Green gave that back under the assumption that if it comes down to it, he can get somewhere near that back from the Warriors,” Slater said. “It was to give flexibility to go try to chase LeBron. If they were to get LeBron, that could get him maybe a multi-year deal at a lower number, but still financial security.”
So sure, there has been chatter. Maybe Green follows James to some other team. But Slater pointed out the math problem.
“LeBron’s having trouble getting more than the minimum out there. So Draymond Green, if he were to follow LeBron, would have to take the minimum. And I mentioned that that number, $27.7 million, because that’s a lot more than $3.9 million and I know Draymond Green. He likes $27.7 million, a lot more than $3.9 million.”
That number gap is basically the whole story. Green betting on himself returning to Golden State on a deal somewhere near his declined option looks like a lock. A LeBron side quest on a veteran minimum? Not happening.
What comes next for Green and the Warriors
Green is 36 now. He played 68 games this past season, which is a lot for him. He averaged 8.4 points, 5.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds. His shooting splits were 41.8 percent from the field, 32.6 percent from three, and 70.2 percent from the free throw line. He’s still effective on defense and he can still run an offense. But he’s not a guy who can afford to give up $24 million for the fun of it.
The Warriors finished 37-45 last season. Tenth in the West. Lost in the play-in after beating the Clippers and losing to the Suns. That team needs help. Adding LeBron James would change things fast. Pairing him with Stephen Curry and Green would give Golden State a core that nobody wants to see in a seven-game series.
But if James goes elsewhere, Green is almost certainly staying put. The money is in San Francisco. And Draymond Green has never been shy about following the money. It’s not a knock on him. It’s just reality. The $27.7 million was always a promise, not a bluff.
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