Many fans have been calling for Draymond Green to move into a bench role with the Golden State Warriors as the team ushers in a new generation of forwards such as Yaxel Lendeborg and Gui Santos.
But any thought of that will have to wait after the Warriors confirmed Green would remain in a starting role that he's occupied ever since replacing an injured David Lee way back at the start of the 2014-15 season.
Draymond Green set to remain in starting role with Warriors
Head coach Steve Kerr has confirmed (via ESPN's Anthony Slater) that he will continue to tie Green and Stephen Curry's minutes heavily together, leaning on the chemistry and championship experience the pair have built over 14 years together as teammates.
That suggests Green, despite calls for a lesser role and move to the bench, will remain in the starting frontcourt where the Warriors will be able to continue using him as a facilitator as Curry works off the ball.
There will likely come a point sometime in the next 12 months where Golden State will have to consider moving Green to the bench, but his offensive value is so directly associated to Curry that keeping him in a starting role is neccessary even if his own individual production has taken a dip.
Green will have to play well though not just to retain his spot in the starting lineup and a 25+ minute per game rotation role, but to actually keep his spot on the team given he'll start the season on a $27.7 million expiring contract. The Warriors were seemingly willing to move the 36-year-old in trades for Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kawhi Leonard before February's mid-season deadline, and speculation is already mounting of a mid-season deal this time around if Green and the team don't make a good start.
Warriors could still start all three forwards come opening night
With Green and Curry locked into the starting lineup, attention turns to who will join them come opening night against the Los Angeles Lakers in three weeks. Kristaps Porzingis would be the bonafide starting center, but another health concern to start training camp casts some doubt over his availibility.
That could lead the Warriors to going small and once again sliding Green to play the small-ball five role, allowing Kerr to start the exciting young combination of Lendeborg and Gui Santos who are otherwise competing for one spot.
Brandin Podziemski and De'Anthony Melton appear to be battling for a starting spot in the backcourt alongside Curry. We'll get a better indication of the Warriors' plans when they face the L.A. Clippers in their first preseason game on Sunday.
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