Golden State Warriors: How Draymond Green can leverage a max contract

All signs point toward Draymond Green pressing his luck this offseason and forcing the Golden State Warriors to give him a max contract. He could go as far as opting out of his current deal and giving Golden State an ultimatum next summer.

Would Green actually leave the dynasty he helped build? It’s unclear. What is clear, though, is Green is going to put pressure on the front office to give him the deal he wants.

How can Draymond Green leverage his way into earning a max contract extension next summer with the Golden State Warriors?

Green could simply threaten to opt out of his deal. But if the Warriors call his bluff — he’ll have to test the market to prove he is worth max money.

Are there any other teams out there that will spend big bucks to get an aging star who is notoriously a third option? Possibly — but it isn’t a smart bet for Green to make.

The NBA is a mostly shameless business when it comes to loyalty but the Dubs are the only franchise that owes Green anything. He helped them win four championships, after all.

Green has built up plenty of good fortune with this team and lowballing him would send a harsh message to the current core and other stars who might consider joining the Warriors later on.

Operating on more than just goodwill, Green can almost guarantee his way to a max contract by doing something simple: Play elite basketball.

Let’s say Green plays at an All-Star level, competes for Defensive Player of the Year, helps lead the Warriors to an excellent record and ultimately wins another championship. Is there any question his wish would be granted?

This is a tall task but something Green has done plenty of times in his career. If he really wants that max contract, he’ll have to prove it.