Although the Golden State Warriors unsurprisingly decided to bring back veteran Draymond Green on a one-year $27.68 million contract, that doesn’t mean he will last with the franchise over the entire season.
If things go backwards in the first half of the season, there’s a very real chance the Warriors will trade Green despite having been an integral part of the team for nearly 15 years, and despite the fact he'll be in the Hall of Fame someday.
While it would be very sad to see Green go, the Warriors may have to make tough choices like that in the coming years as they reckon with the reality that they aren’t a perennial contender anymore.
If the Warriors do decide to trade Green, here are the three most likely landing spots for the former Defensive Player of the Year.
3 teams Warriors might trade Draymond Green to
Philadelphia 76ers
We know how good a relationship Green and LeBron James have. Green was actually selfless enough to opt out of his contract with the Warriors to at least give the team the flexibility required to land James. That obviously didn’t happen, but with James now in Philadelphia alongside Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid, the Sixers are going to be looking to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Green could end up being that missing piece for Philadelphia. He can still play great defense and he knows how to win in the playoffs. He’s an enforcer who knows how to get underneath opponents’ skin and it’s not hard to see him endearing himself to a notoriously noxious fanbase in Philadelphia that likes villains.
Plus, we know that Bob Myers played a big role in Philly’s huge offseason and he has familiarity with Green dating back to his time with the Warriors, making it a potentially perfect fit.
Detroit Pistons
Green is a Michigan native who went to Michigan State, meaning a return would make a lot of sense. He’d also make sense with the Pistons from a basketball perspective since they're are a young team that has shown promise, but who are looking to take that next step and translate regular season success into the playoffs.
Green can be that fiery veteran mentor they need and a fanbase that embraced the “Bad Boys” of the 1980s surely wouldn’t mind the way Green plays the game.
Boston Celtics
Boston is dealing with the loss of Brown and while they still have Jaysen Tatum, they might need more of an enforcer type like they had when Marcus Smart was on the team. Green could help them out if the Celtics are in playoff contention and looking to make a second-half push.
Of course, maybe the Warriors end up having a better year than expected and Green stays put. That would be great, but fans have to be prepared for the possibility that he will be dealt and there’s a good chance he will end up heading to one of these teams.
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