Draymond Green stays with Warriors following trade deadline
PHOENIX — Draymond Green will continue with the Golden State Warriors beyond Thursday’s trade deadline, according to team sources who spoke to ESPN.
Green was part of the Warriors’ discussions regarding potential trades and offers to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but those talks did not gain significant momentum.
The Warriors have come to understand over the last few days that the Bucks did not genuinely intend to trade Antetokounmpo and shifted their focus to acquiring Atlanta Hawks center Kristaps Porzingis, trading away Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield in the process.
A factor in the decision to pursue Porzingis is the internal belief that his abilities, as a rim-protecting big man who can shoot a high volume of three-pointers, complement Green well in the frontcourt. Green, known for his defensive prowess, does not pose a deep shooting threat and prefers to have a larger player alongside him to allow for more freedom on the court.
For this to be effective, Porzingis must be available. He has participated in only 17 games this season and has been sidelined since January 7, but the Warriors are optimistic that he has recovered from his left calf issue and is expected to make his debut for them in the near future, according to team sources.
Green, who faced a level of uncertainty regarding the trade deadline that he has not experienced in his 14-year tenure with the Warriors, is now assured of staying put until at least the summer.
Green has a player option worth $27.6 million for the upcoming season, which is the final year of his current contract. He expressed that he harbors no resentment towards the organization for including him in trade talks.
“I think a lot of people want to know how I feel about it,” Green stated on Tuesday night. “Like, am I upset about it? I’m not at all. If [trading me is] what’s best for this organization, that’s what’s best for this organization. I’m not like, ‘Ah, they f—ed me over.’ I don’t really feel that way.”
