Draymond Green may not have succeeded in recruiting LeBron James to the Golden State Warriors this offseason, but the veteran forward was a big factor in the franchise landing Frank Vogel as their new associate head coach on Steve Kerr's staff.
After an underwhelming offseason where they missed on James and other trade and free agency targets, Vogel presents as arguably Golden State's biggest addition to a team seeking a return to the playoffs next year.
Draymond Green helped Warriors acquire Frank Vogel
Speaking to Luca Evans of The San Francisco Standard, the defensive-minded Vogel confirmed Green was a "big reason" for his arrival to the Warriors after spending the past two years as an assistant at the Dallas Mavericks.
“You want your defense to have teeth, you know what I mean?” Vogel said. “And he scared the s— out of me every time I played against the Warriors. I know that if he’s playing, it’s going to be hard to win that game, and it’s going to be hard to score."
As much as Green's fiery personality may have turned players away from joining Golden State in the past, it's incredible to think that at 36-years-old, his defensive reputation is so strong that it can attract a notable coach to the franchise.
Vogel certainly is that given he arrives with over 900 games of head coaching experience in the league, having had stints with the Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns. He led the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship, while also building the best defense in the league during the following season.
Draymond Green and Frank Vogel couldn't lure LeBron James to Warriors
Green was also going to be one of the big factors in James joining the Warriors were that to take place. The former Defensive Player of the Year spent considerable time with the four-time MVP as the basketball world awaited his decision, but it wasn't enough as James signed a two-year, $7.9 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Vogel agreed to a coaching deal with Golden State during James' free agency process, further lifting optimism of the franchise landing the superstar forward after their time together at the Lakers. Vogel confirmed it could have been a factor in trying to bring James to the Warriors, but that it obviously wasn't a primary reason for his hiring.
Green and Vogel will now get to work on trying to lift the Warrior defense, having slipped to 16th in the league on that end of the floor last season on their way to a playoff absence.
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