Draymond Green champions a bold move for the Grizzlies, suggesting a relocation from Memphis to Nashville due to infrastructure concerns.
Draymond Green has never been one to filter his opinions, and his latest remarks are unlikely to go down well in Memphis.
Speaking on The Draymond Green Show, the Golden State Warriors forward waded into the NBA’s looming expansion conversation before taking a sharp detour. While discussing how the league might realign conferences if new franchises are added, Green suggested a far more drastic solution for the Memphis Grizzlies.
“Adam, let them just do us all a favor and take the team to Nashville,” Green said, referring to commissioner Adam Silver. “Leave that arena, you ain’t got to pay the relocation fee.”
It was not an offhand comment. Green doubled down, arguing that Memphis should not only shift to the Eastern Conference but relocate entirely to Nashville, citing infrastructure concerns that extended beyond basketball.
“I love the people of Memphis,” he added. “They are incredible. But from an NBA standpoint, there’s not a sauna or a hot tub in sight.”
The remarks are the latest in a series of jabs directed at the city, with the four-time champion previously criticizing hotel conditions during a February trip. Unsurprisingly, those comments have only deepened tensions with a fan base that already views him through a competitive lens.
From a league perspective, however, the conversation Green tapped into is not entirely without context.
The NBA is actively exploring expansion, with Seattle and Las Vegas widely considered the frontrunners for new franchises. If both cities are added to the Western Conference, the league would face an immediate imbalance, forcing at least one existing team to shift east.
Minnesota has often been viewed as the most logical candidate due to geography. Memphis, while slightly further east, has rarely been mentioned as a relocation possibility, particularly given the league’s consistent stance.
Silver has repeatedly stated that relocation is not currently under consideration.
That is what makes Green’s proposal more provocative than practical.
Even within his own argument, the structural math does not necessarily support a full relocation. Simply moving one team to the Eastern Conference would restore balance in a 32-team league. Uprooting a franchise entirely introduces far more complexity, from market viability to ownership approval and long-term league strategy.
Still, the Warriors forward framed it as a straightforward fix.
“Get them out of Memphis and send them to Nashville,” he said. “Do the right thing.”
The suggestion echoes a similar take recently voiced by Stephen A. Smith, though it has drawn pushback from local Memphis leadership and fans alike.
For now, the Grizzlies remain firmly rooted where they are. But as expansion talks gather momentum, debates around geography, markets, and competitive balance are only going to intensify.
And if nothing else, Green has ensured Memphis will be at the center of that conversation, whether it welcomes it or not.