Draymond Green Warriors deal keeps veteran in Golden State for one year
Draymond Green is returning to the Warriors on a one-year, $27.7 million contract, according to Rich Paul and ESPN.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Draymond Green is staying put, with a new Draymond Green Warriors deal bringing the veteran forward back to Golden State on a one-year, $27.7 million contract, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN's Shams Charania.
The agreement comes after Green declined a $27.6 million player option earlier in the summer, a move ESPN described as surprising because it landed just before free agency began.
According to ESPN, that choice gave the Warriors more room to work financially while they were among the teams pursuing LeBron James. James later chose Philadelphia, ESPN reported, and Green and Golden State then moved ahead with their own new contract.
Does Draymond Green's new Warriors deal have a no-trade clause?
No. A source told ESPN that Green's one-year contract with the Warriors does not include a no-trade clause.
A no-trade clause gives a player contractual power to block a trade. Without one in this deal, Green does not have that specific protection if Golden State considers roster moves during the season.
Green's return extends one of the NBA's longest current team-player partnerships. ESPN reported that his 14-season stretch with Golden State is the second-longest active run with one franchise in the league.
The only active streak ahead of him belongs to Warriors teammate Stephen Curry, who is set to begin his 18th season with Golden State in October, according to ESPN.
Why was Green's Warriors future in doubt?
ESPN reported that Green's long run with the Warriors looked less secure in February, when league sources said he came up in active trade discussions with the Milwaukee Bucks involving Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Green later acknowledged to ESPN in March that the talks bothered him for a moment, while also saying he understood the business side of a possible pursuit of a player like Antetokounmpo.
"I'm a human being," Green told ESPN. "There was a second of me [at the deadline] that felt like, 'Damn, they really going to do that to me?' [But] I understand this business probably [as] good as any player. Like, yo, this is Giannis Antetokounmpo. They not just about to trade me for a bag of peanuts."
The Warriors did not complete a trade for Antetokounmpo, and ESPN reported that they did not reenter those talks during the summer.
Green remains in Golden State as a key rotation player even as ESPN noted that his production has been gradually declining. He averaged 27.5 minutes over 68 games last season, according to ESPN.
ESPN also reported that Green has said he would be willing to shift to a bench role if Warriors coach Steve Kerr decides that is what the team needs.
For now, the Warriors keep a familiar voice, defender and playmaker beside Curry for another season, while Green gets a fresh one-year contract after passing on his player option.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.