Klay Thompson's career at the Golden State Warriors ended on a sour note, but Draymond Green is determined not to follow a similar path if his time at the franchise comes to an end before his NBA career is out.
Green's future was a source of speculation prior to the February trade deadline and likely will be again this offseason, yet the veteran forward wants to ensure any parting of ways with the Warriors is done in amicable fashion.
Draymond Green wants to part ways with the Warriors on good terms
Self-awareness isn't a trait that's always been evident throughout Green's career, but this experienced version of the 36-year-old is smart, knows basketball, and understands his legacy with Golden State and in the NBA.
In an extensive interview with ESPN's Anthony Slater published on Wednesday, Green spoke of the rumors surrounding his future and his potential involvement in a trade for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
"I understand this business probably [as] good as any player. I understand like, yo, this is Giannis Antetokounmpo. They not just about to trade me for a bag of peanuts. It would've almost been a point of pride," Green said.
Green has a level of control in his future this summer, with the former Defensive Player of the Year holding a $27.7 million player option for next season. He would understand that picking up that option could easily lead to his involvement in a trade, which might be enough to persuade him into opting out and signing a multi-year deal at a lower annual salary.
There's no doubt that throughout their respective careers, Green has/was more of a problem for the franchise in regard to his on and off-court behaviour in comparison to Thompson. However, he does deserves some credit for his maturity and understanding of the present situation.
Klay Thompson struggled to come to terms with his decline
In contrast, Thompson didn't have the same level of self-awareness in his final 12 months at the franchise, ultimately leading to his free agency departure to the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million contract.
The 5x All-Star clearly wasn't impressed with being moved to the bench in February of his final season for a rookie Brandin Podziemski, nor the unwillingness of the front office to truly prioritize his re-signing.
The reality is the Warriors have been proven right for both aspects, with Thompson now a reserve for the lowly Mavericks this season, and with his contract not overly team-friendly as a result.