Warriors reportedly open to including Draymond Green in Giannis deal

SAN FRANCISCO – One of the pillars of the Warriors’ golden era is on the market as Thursday’s trade deadline approaches.

Per reports from multiple media outlets, Draymond Green is available in a trade as the Warriors pursue a deal for Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

The Warriors could offer as many as four first-round picks and a pick swap in addition to Green, Jonathan Kuminga and Milwaukee native Brandin Podziemski to entice the Bucks.  

Golden State is set to play what could be Green’s final home game on Tuesday against the 76ers, and then will travel to Phoenix to play Thursday night, hours after the noon trade deadline.

Green will make $27.6 million in the final year of his deal next season, and his salary would be necessary to make a swap for Antetokounmpo viable even if the Warriors include Kuminga as part of the trade.

Jimmy Butler, who is making $56.8 million next season, could also be traded, but is currently out with a torn ACL.

Green has previously acknowledged that his time in the Bay Area may be coming to an end.

During his postgame media availability on Friday, Green was his typically candid self when asked about the possibility of being dealt at the deadline after winning four championships with the Warriors. 

“I’ve been here for 14 years,” Green said in the Warriors’ locker room after a loss to the Detroit Pistons. “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.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr has repeatedly stated his desire to see Green retire as a Warrior, but as the trade deadline has approached, Kerr has also said that every veteran on the team knows that there is a possibility they could be traded.

“The players, especially the older guys, they understand that this is kind of part of the deal that you sign up for,” Kerr said on Friday. “But it doesn’t make it any easier.”

Before signing his four-year, $100 million contract to return to the Warriors in 2023, Green nearly took a deal to join the Memphis Grizzlies, he told Fred Warner on the 49ers linebacker’s podcast in 2024.

Green is a nine-time All-Defensive team selection and was the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year, but he has lost a step on that side of the ball, and his offense has regressed as both a passer and scorer. 

He is averaging 8.4 points and 5.3 assists per game, but also commits an average of 2.8 turnovers in just 26 minutes per game, while shooting just 32.1% on 3-pointers. 

Even though his physical tools have declined, Green’s fire and intensity has not. He is among the league leaders with 10 technical fouls going into Tuesday’s game against Philadelphia, and is just six technicals away from a mandatory one-game suspension.