Draymond Green reportedly declines player option, Warriors want to keep him

Four-time NBA champion Draymond Green will hit free agency this summer after declining his $27.5 million player option with the Golden State Warriors for the 2023-24 season and will become an unrestricted free agent, per multiple sources.

Remaining with the Warriors is still an option for Green, who will test the market, according to his agent, Rich Paul.

"We will continue to talk to Golden State and explore all options," Paul told ESPN, which also includes a possible sign-and-trade.

The Warriors would like to have Green back in the Bay Area, however. New Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said that while he couldn't explicitly comment yet on Green's decision to opt-out because it isn't official, he confirmed he team's desire to re-sign the four-time All-Star forward when he met with reporters for his introductory press conference.

"I think Steve [Kerr] has said it, [and] I’ll reiterate [that] we really want Draymond back," Dunleavy said Monday. "What he means to this organization and this team in terms of trying to win at the highest level, we feel like we have to have him. So that’s very important."

Warriors owner Joe Lacob reiterated Dunleavy's thoughts on Green, saying that he believes Green would be "very important" to any success the Warriors have over the next few seasons if he opts to re-sign.

"He [has] been a spectacular player for us," Lacob said. "We would not have these championships without his involvement, no question. I think everyone understands that in this room. He’s meant a lot to this franchise. He’s a bit of a controversial player, perhaps, in some corners around the league — certain things that have happened over the years. 

"He knows that. We know that. But the good overwhelms the bad is what I would say."

Green has been an integral part of the Warriors' run to four titles over the last nine seasons. After being drafted out of Michigan State in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft, Green emerged as one of the league's top defensive players, earning him a dazzling eight All-Defensive team nods. He also won Defensive Player of the Year in 2017. 

Now 33 years old, there have been questions over the last year if Green would finish his career in Golden State. Four months after the Warriors won their fourth title with Green, the veteran forward was in the center of controversy when he struck Jordan Poole in the face during a team practice in training camp. Green was fined by the team and was held out for the remainder of the preseason following the incident.

While Green was away from the team in the time leading up to the start of the 2022-23 season, the Warriors gave long-term extensions to Poole and Andrew Wiggins, but not Green, who was extension eligible. 

Green averaged 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game in the 72 contests he played in this year. He also earned an All-Defensive second-team honors.

However, the Warriors struggled in their title defense, going 44-38 in the regular season. After beating the Sacramento Kings in a seven-game first-round series, they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games in the second round of the playoffs.

Even though the Warriors are north of the salary cap, they can re-sign Green to any deal because they have his Bird Rights. However, they've already committed roughly $183 million in player salaries next season. That's roughly $8 million above the projected second luxury tax apron. Re-signing Green would likely make the Warriors a second luxury tax apron team for the foreseeable future, which would hamstring their ability to make other moves for outside players. 

Even as the Warriors' core gets older (Stephwn Curry turned 35 and Klay Thompson turned 33 in February) and potentially more expensive, Dunleavy thinks they can still compete for titles with the core if they bring back Green and potentially deal with tough team-building consequences. 

"That’s our hope," Dunleavy said. "We love those guys and value them. I think there is a way to do it. That’s something we’ll have to work through. It certainly is possible. The big thing is those guys are still playing at a high level. Steph conservatively is one of the top five players in the league. 

"Draymond just had an incredible year. Essentially first team all defense. We’re biased. One of the premiere defenders in the league. Klay has really returned well from his Achilles injury and his knee. Those guys are playing well at an older age."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.