Draymond Green has been a part of Golden State Warriors for so long, that it seems almost impossible to imagine the team without his presence. Reports may prove fans otherwise, as the star player has declined a lucrative offer of $27.6 million from the Warriors.
Green’s contract with the Warriors has been a topic of fierce debate for quite a while. Things particularly blew up after a July 2022 report in The Athletic stated that he would not be offered a maximum extension upon eligibility by the team.
Meanwhile, he has been spotted with Lakers power forward LeBron James in France, adding fuel to the fire of rumors.
LeBron and Draymond spark trade buzz with joint appearances
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski‘s report on Green’s exit had the sports enthusiasts buzzing all the way. Sources claimed that the player was planning to become a free agent, rather than accepting his deal with the Golden State Warriors. With his news, many of his fans wanted him to join hands with LeBron James.
Draymond Green in France with Lebron James right when news drops that he rejected his player option 👀🤔 pic.twitter.com/d70x4OGIOR
— JAKE (@KingJakeVII) June 19, 2023
Interestingly, Draymond and LeBron are represented by the same person, Rich Paul. Both the players also share a close and friendly bond off the field, despite sharing fierce rivalries in several NBA finals on it. James was even on the invitee list of Green’s wedding and attended the celebrations along with Warriors stars Curry and Thompson.
Draymond Green declines $27.6M Warriors contract
The Athletic chose to draw Green to the limelight, instead of many other big names. Draymond Green is clearly much more valuable to the Golden State Warriors than anyone else at the moment.
Although the 33-year-old may be at the last leg of his career, there is absolutely no doubt that he is one of the best defenders of this generation. The game chemistry between him and Steph Curry simply cannot be sidelined. At the same time, he is also the best potential defense against bigger players, aiding in the team’s small-ball game strategy.
There is no doubt that the big trio of Green, Curry, and Thompson is a delight to watch in every game. However, if the speculations are proven to be true, it would be interesting to witness the on-field chemistry between James and Green as well. The former rivals turned teammates’ cooperation and communication would definitely give fans a treat.
Do you think Green is joining James’s team? What would be the best part about witnessing two greats of a generation in a single team?
