It was just a few months ago that the Golden State Warriors were dangling Draymond Green in trade offers and their longtime forward was talking about the end of his career with the team. Now Green has opted out of his player option for next season so the team can open up more financial flexibility — and give Green a longer deal.
Green was due to make $27.7M next season. The implication is that he’d sign a deal that lowers his cap number for 2026-27, but one that gives him more years and money overall. That’s what happened with our old friend Andrew Wiggins, who declined his $30.2M player option for next season in order to sign a three-year deal worth $64M.
Given that Wiggins is younger and was making more money, perhaps a new Green deal comes in around three years and $54M, with a player option on the final season as a sweetener. That could give the Warriors something like $10M extra to use on another player, which they’re hoping is LeBron James but might more realistically be Kristaps Porzingis and De’Anthony Melton.
Or, they also trade for Anthony Davis and go full “Expendables.” It’s unclear what Mike Dunleavy, Jr. and the Light Years Ahead front office can pull off.
What is clear is that Green isn’t going anywhere for a while. After punching Jordan Poole, choking Rudy Gobert, stomping Domantas Sabonis, clocking Jusuf Nurkic with an elbow, calling Kevin Durant a bitch, shooting three-pointers like he’s wearing a backpack, and 500 arguments with Steve Kerr, Green is looking like he’ll finish his career with the Warriors.
Green’s defense is still there. Steve Kerr and Steph Curry still love him. And Green never wanted to leave Golden State. But who would have imagined that a dramatic Warriors rebuild in 2026 would involve keeping Draymond Green?
