Warriors reportedly discuss Draymond Green trades, potentially reshaping the roster to pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Golden State Warriors have placed Draymond Green in active trade discussions ahead of Thursday's deadline, according to ESPN's Anthony Slater.
The move puts Green's 14-year run with the franchise in jeopardy as general manager Mike Dunleavy and owner Joe Lacob push to land Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee.
"The Warriors have placed Draymond Green in trade talks, and his 14-year run with the team is in jeopardy," Slater reported, noting that Green's name has been involved in the framework of available offers to the Bucks.
Green addressed the situation on Friday night, taking it in stride while acknowledging the reality of the business.
"I've been here for 14 years," Green said. "I have no reason to sit and worry about leaving. But if I'm traded, that's part of the business. I ain't losing no sleep, though. I slept great last night."
Why Green Has Become the Key Trade Piece
To acquire Antetokounmpo and his $54 million salary, the Warriors need to send out significant money.
They have two options for matching salaries in Jimmy Butler ($56.8 million next season) or Green ($27.6 million).
Butler is recovering from an ACL tear and cannot contribute to a contender right now, which makes Green the more appealing piece for Milwaukee and other teams involved in potential deals.
The Warriors (27-23) sit eighth in the Western Conference, while the Bucks (18-27) have fallen to 12th in the East with Antetokounmpo dealing with a calf injury.
A package for Giannis would likely include Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, and multiple first-round picks.
Golden State can offer up to four first-round selections, including unprotected picks in 2026, 2028, and 2032.
Could Green Return in the Offseason?
One interesting scenario floated by ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel involves Green potentially returning to the Warriors next summer.
"One rival executive who has dealt with the Warriors before in trade talks spoke with ClutchPoints on Sunday and brought up the interesting scenario where Green himself could be on board with such a maneuver, where he could be traded and return next season alongside Curry, Butler, and Antetokounmpo, since he owns a $27.6 million player option."
Green could decline his player option and become an unrestricted free agent, allowing him to sign a team-friendly deal with Golden State after they have already acquired Antetokounmpo.
This would not be unprecedented for Green, who passed on an $11 million raise in 2016 to help the team sign Kevin Durant, a decision that led to back-to-back championships.
Steve Kerr spoke about the difficulty of the situation on his radio show. "I think what's really tricky for Draymond is this is the only place he's ever known," Kerr said. "He's going to have a statue outside the building someday. He's never been through this and it's definitely been on his mind."
Green has averaged 8.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 41 games this season while remaining the defensive anchor for Kerr's squad.
The trade deadline arrives Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.