The Golden State Warriors are aiming for another playoff-caliber season, and perhaps one that goes deep into the postseason. However, so far, their performance has been inconsistent. It’s still early, though, and there’s plenty of time to iron things out. Veteran Draymond Green recently got into an altercation with a fan after being called a woman.
“It was a good joke at first, but you can’t keep calling me a woman,” Green told reporters. “I’ve got four kids and one on the way. You can’t keep calling me a woman. It’s all good. He got quiet, though, so it was fine.”
In addition to the incident with the fan, reports surfaced about Green influencing front office decisions. Apparently, he told the team not to pursue a trade for young superstar Lauri Markkanen.
“According to Anthony Slater, Green didn’t simply offer a veteran’s opinion, he stepped in early. He urged the team to stay grounded and remember how these high-stakes discussions tend to end. Ainge rarely blinks. The price for Markkanen would have meant picks, prospects, and pieces that matter for the Warriors’ long-term stability. Draymond respected the talent, but not the cost. And he made that clear,” Clutchpoints’ Yasmin Edanol wrote.
Green advising the front office against acquiring Markkanen might not have been the smartest move. Markkanen is averaging 30 points per game so far this season.
“Lauri Markkanen is only the second player in Utah Jazz history to average 30 points per game through the first 13 games of a season. Adrian Dantley (3X) also did it,” Jazz insider Ben Anderson wrote.
Markkanen has been on a tear and could have been a huge asset for the Warriors. While trading picks would have been costly, the championship window for Golden State is now or never.
Acquiring Markkanen would have strengthened the Warriors, giving them a dominant big man to complement their roster. However, Green clearly had other plans.