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Golden State Warriors’ fierce rival considered shock Draymond Green deal

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 25: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors and Dillon Brooks #24 of the Memphis Grizzlies exchange word with each other during the second quarter at Chase Center on December 25, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 25: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors and Dillon Brooks #24 of the Memphis Grizzlies exchange word with each other during the second quarter at Chase Center on December 25, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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After opting out of a $27.6 million player option for next season, Draymond Green has become an unrestricted free agent and a tantalizing prospect for some teams who may look to lure the four-time champion from the Golden State Warriors.

One of the teams considering a play for Green was the Memphis Grizzlies, perhaps the Warriors’ biggest rival over recent seasons. However, the potential of an odd marriage between Green and Memphis has dissipated after the franchise’s acquisition of Marcus Smart, according to Marc Stein (subscription required).

Draymond Green departing the Golden State Warriors for the Memphis Grizzlies would have been an incredibly shocking free agency move.

The young Grizzlies and experienced Warriors have built one of the league’s biggest rivalries in recent seasons, having played one another in the 2021 Play-In Tournament and in the second-round of last year’s playoffs. Green may have been at the forefront of a number of heated exchanges during the last 2-3 years, but that wasn’t necessarily going to stop the Grizzlies from chasing him in free agency.

"“League sources say that the Grizzlies had strong interest in Green and were plotting to make some sort of run at him. I’m told that the Grizzlies’ pre-Smart interest in Green was genuine”, Stein wrote."

As Stein also pointed out, much of Green’s issues with the Grizzlies stems from antagonistic guard/forward Dillon Brooks. The 27-year-old is a free agent himself, and according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, will not be brought back to Memphis “under any circumstances”.

Memphis Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks and Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Memphis Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks and Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

The Grizzlies may have targeted Green and offered a deal in free agency, but that doesn’t mean there would have been any mutual interest in teaming up from next season. As it turns out, Memphis instead made a move for another defensive-minded player in Smart last week, part of a three-team trade that landed Kristaps Porzingis in Boston and Tyus Jones in Washington.

There will undoubtedly be a number of teams interested in acquiring Green this offseason, and the Warriors’ desperation to keep the former Defensive Player of the Year has only heightened after the franchise made their own blockbuster trade in dealing Jordan Poole for Chris Paul on Thursday. Fortunately, Green’s return to Golden State continues to appear like a foregone conclusion.

"“I continue to hear nothing but strong confidence emanating from the Bay Area that an agreement on a multi-year deal for Green to stay right where he’s always been is forthcoming, Stein wrote. “A three-year deal, league sources say, is a popular current projection for the 33-year-old.”"

Next. Steve Kerr’s assessment on Golden State Warriors’ trade for Chris Paul. dark

Earlier in the month, The Athletic’s John Hollinger projected that Green and the Warriors could come together on a new three-year, $75 million contract. While that seems like a reasonable deal for both sides, the Poole-Paul trade now gives Golden State a little more financial flexibility to go above that number if required.

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