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Scotto: 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.
Slater: He has a player option for the following year after this, around $27 million. What is Green’s market going to be? That’s the big question. He’s going to be 33 entering free agency. Last year, he had a pretty scary injury with basically a nerve from his spine that was creating issues in his calf, and he missed half the season. The Warriors, I think, are in a wait-and-see mode. If he tests the market, what kind of deal would he get? Would it be better than anything the Warriors can offer, or that player option, that’s available to him to come back?
Also, the Warriors have these massive tax bill issues coming up where the amount of tax money if they paid everyone. I’m including an Andrew Wiggins extension and a Jordan Poole extension, which I do expect at some point soon (referring to Poole), and if Draymond stayed on his hefty salary. We’re talking about a tax bill that goes past $500 million for an organization that has pretty outwardly said they don’t want to go above $400 million. They’ve already set NBA records in the $370-80 million range.
One of these contracts, you’d think, has to get off the books. I think maybe if you took me back a year ago, I think it might be Wiggins, but he played himself into deeper plans into their future. Especially with what went on this week, you start to look at the future of Draymond and what options he feels like he might have outside of the Warriors. You mentioned one in the Lakers. He has a deep history now with Klutch (Sports). Rich Paul is his agent. The Lakers, with Russell Westbrook coming off the books, should be able to create enough cap room to give him a reasonable deal he’d like. They have to be considered a threat in this situation. From a basketball fit, and Draymond is a basketball junkie, Anthony Davis, LeBron and Draymond would have spacing issues. To me, a type like Kyrie Irving, a scoring guard who could shoot it and fill it up, makes more basketball sense. If Draymond’s looking for a way to his next big contract and doesn’t feel it’s coming from the Warriors – I’m not saying that’s the case at this point – but I think both sides are looking around right now because of everything going on. If the Lakers are the only option, maybe it’s something explored. I think we’re far away from that.
Scotto: I think some people would also speculate and wonder if, because Draymond went to Michigan State, would Detroit have any interest as they try to hasten the rebuilding curve there? This is all speculative stuff for down the line. To me, I agree as far as your Irving assessment that he’d be a better fit theoretically for the Lakers.
When it comes to Draymond and his option for next season, my thought process is I’d think he could get more than that maybe on a shorter deal. This is his last chance to get a really big payday. Draymond’s been an integral part of the core that’s gotten them (Golden State) four titles. Where is the line in the sand there?
