Draymond Green addressed how he's been handling potentially being traded by the Warriors.
Draymond Green is, without a doubt, a franchise legend for the Golden State Warriors. He helped them win four NBA championships, took home the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year award, and was named to the All-Star team four times and the All-Defensive teams nine times.
However, even legends have their time in the limelight cut short, and new reports suggest that Green's tenure with the Warriors could be brought to an abrupt close. The Warriors have been closely linked to Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, but up to this point, most trade hypotheticals have involved Jonathan Kuminga being packaged with the injured Jimmy Butler to make the contracts work.
Recent reports, though, have shown the Warriors are inclined to keep Butler, even though he won't be playing any time soon, and instead may be willing to part with Green so that the salary cap rules are followed in a potential Antetokounmpo trade.
Green Gives Veteran Response About Trade Deadline
As many other players were, Green was asked on Friday after the Warriors' loss to the Detroit Pistons how he has been handling the trade rumors.
"I'm not going to go up there and be like 'Yo, tell me what y'all are doing.' Same as always. My phone is always on, I'm always willing to collaborate in any way I can. I've been here for 14 years. I have no reason to sit and worry about leaving. But if I'm traded, that's part of the business, so it is what it is. I ain't losing no sleep, though. I slept great last night."
It's a casual, unaffected vibe that Green gave off when answering those questions, showcasing his veteran mentality, at least in front of the cameras and microphones.
How Would A Green Trade Work?
If a trade for Antetokounmpo were to be made, it seems like Kuminga and Green are now the centerpieces in terms of contracts. Obviously, the Bucks would be most heavily attracted to the future first-round picks the Warriors would be offering in such a trade, and while Kuminga might be a potentially valuable player to keep if they want to include him in their rebuilding plans, 35-year-old Green likely doesn't fit there.
As it turns out, Green's contract situation might work out in everyone's favor. Not only does his $26 million work well with Kuminga's $22 million for the trade, but Green also has a player option this offseason. If Green does end up traded to the Bucks, there's a chance that he could just decline the player option and resign with the Warriors in the offseason for the veteran minimum. The Bucks would get more cap flexibility, and Green would essentially take a half-season vacation from the Warriors.
Of course, that'd be a large pay-cut for Green, and there's no telling what the trade will change in terms of the Warriors' salary cap restrictions, but it's an interesting potential workaround if the Warriors and Bucks are truly serious about making such a blockbuster deal.
Green will always be a Warriors legend, no matter what happens, but if things turn out exactly how they seemingly could, he may not have to stay away for long.