Stunning straight Draymond Green swap proposed for Golden State Warriors
Draymond Green's latest indiscretion has left his Golden State Warriors future in the spotlight, with the veteran forward receiving counseling following the indefinite suspension handed down by the league.
The 33-year-old is expected to be out for at least the next three weeks after his hit on Jusuf Nurkic in last week's loss to the Phoenix Suns. In the meantime, the Warriors have won three-straight games without Green, including a notable overtime victory against the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics on Tuesday.
A straight player-for-player trade has been proposed involving Golden State Warriors' forward Draymond Green
The Golden State youngsters have stood up in Green's early absence, particularly frontcourt players Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis who've benefitted from the extra opportunity. Could their development, and growing frustration of Green's actions, lead to the franchise trading their former Defensive Player of the Year?
Discussing potential Green trades before the February 8 deadline, The Ringer's Bill Simmons suggested whether the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers would agree to a straight swap of Green for Jarrett Allan.
""Take Draymond, Donovan Mitchell stays in Cleveland. Jarrett Allan some size with Golden State. Just a straight up trade, I was trying to think who would say no to that? I took a while, I don't even know. I think Golden State just cos' of the Curry piece. I don't think Curry wants Draymond traded, but I also don't know," Simmons said."
It's an interesting proposal for both teams, one that has its positives and negatives for each. On the Warriors' side, Allen would certainly add much needed size and an interior presence, yet shouldn't be held in the same stature as Green.
He also doesn't hold the same playoff or championship experience. The 25-year-old's play in the 2023 postseason was much maligned, with the Cavaliers surprisingly eliminated in just five games by the New York Knicks.
Allen is averaging 13 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and a block per game this season, having now become more important for Cleveland in the absence of Evan Mobley who will be sidelined for an extended period with a knee injury.
That makes an Allen trade now less likely, while the uncertainty surrounding Green would make it difficult for any team to trade for him. The recent form of Jackson-Davis may have also relieved the need for someone like Allen, with the 23-year-old rookie having averaged 12 points, 10.5 rebounds and two blocks over the last two games.