Draymond Green, Warriors
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Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors reacts after the referees called a technical foul on injured Dillon Brooks of the Phoenix Suns.
As the Golden State Warriors continue to explore the outer limits of a potential blockbuster for Giannis Antetokounmpo, a surprising name has surfaced in league circles as a possible mechanism to unlock a deal: Draymond Green.
According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, an NBA executive recently floated a scenario in which Green could be traded to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a complex, multi-team construction — not as a long-term piece, but effectively as a short-term rental to help Golden State amass the assets necessary to land the two-time MVP.
Rival Executive Floats Draymond Green “Rental” Scenario
Siegel reported Monday that one rival executive, familiar with Golden State’s trade approach, suggested Green himself could be open to such a maneuver given the structure of his contract.
“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,” Siegel wrote, “where he could be traded and return next season alongside (Stephen) Curry, (Jimmy) Butler and Antetokounmpo, since he owns a $27.6 million player option.”
The executive framed the idea as a calculated gamble — one that could tilt the bidding war decisively in Golden State’s favor.
“Look, without Jimmy, the Warriors aren’t getting to the NBA Finals, even if they added Giannis right now,” the executive told ClutchPoints. “If you leverage Draymond and get more assets, you can pull off the biggest blockbuster and leave these other teams wanting Giannis scrambling for answers.”
Why Green Could Unlock Giannis Deal for Warriors
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, and Al Horford are all over 35 years old, and trying to compete in a Western Conference with young players yet to hit the prime of their careers is a difficult task.
GettyJimmy Butler III, Draymond Green and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors talk in a huddle.
According to the executive, Green’s short-term value as a defensive anchor and postseason-tested leader could entice contenders to part with real draft capital.
“There is no doubt in my mind there are those who would immediately offer a first-round pick for Draymond to make a title push right now,” the executive said. “I 100 percent believe there are teams who would essentially help the Warriors get Giannis if it meant they got Green for the next three or four months to pursue a title.”
That framework would allow Golden State to reroute Green elsewhere, convert him into additional draft compensation or young players, and present Milwaukee with a more compelling package — one built around picks, flexibility, and immediate on-court impact.
Contract Structure Adds Intrigue
Green holds a $27.6 million player option for next season, giving him leverage in any short-term relocation. Siegel noted that a theoretical outcome of such a deal could see Green opting out in the offseason and returning to Golden State on a more team-friendly contract as an unrestricted free agent — though that scenario would likely require significant financial sacrifice.
The Warriors have navigated a similar maneuver before.
In 2020, Golden State traded 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala to the Memphis Grizzlies before ultimately landing on the Miami Heat to create the cap flexibility needed to acquire D’Angelo Russell, who was later flipped for Andrew Wiggins. Iguodala eventually returned to the Warriors two years later, winning his fourth championship with the franchise before retiring.
Green Publicly Scoffs, Privately Braces?
Green publicly dismissed the report on social media, laughing off the speculation.
“🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 who’s the source?” Green replied on Threads in response to a post detailing Siegel’s report.
Behind the scenes, however, league insiders suggest the possibility is being taken seriously.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Green and his camp are well aware that his name has surfaced in substantive conversations involving Milwaukee.
“To that point, league sources say Green and his camp are well aware that the prospect of him being sent to Milwaukee is very real,” Amick wrote Tuesday.
Amick cited reporting from Nick Friedell indicating that Jimmy Butler has been given strong assurances that the Warriors plan to stick by him during his year-long rehab from a torn ACL. If Butler is effectively untouchable — due to both loyalty and league salary-matching rules — Green becomes the most viable high-impact veteran salary Golden State can move.
Bucks’ Preference: Healthy, Impact Players
From Milwaukee’s perspective, availability matters.
League sources told The Athletic that the Bucks are prioritizing players who can contribute immediately, which could make Green more appealing than Butler, who is not expected to return until midway through next season.
“As for Green,” Amick added, “the chance remains — if the Warriors found a way to pull this off — that he might push his way to another team or, perhaps, go the free agency route this summer.”
High Stakes for Warriors’ Franchise Core
For the Warriors, the calculus is delicate.
Green remains a foundational piece of the Golden State’s identity and its championship infrastructure alongside Stephen Curry. But the franchise is also operating under the reality that opportunities to acquire a generational superstar like Antetokounmpo are rare — and often require uncomfortable decisions.
Whether Golden State ultimately views Green as untouchable or as a strategic lever may determine how far their Giannis pursuit can realistically go.
As the deadline approaches, one thing is clear: in the Warriors’ most ambitious trade push in years, even pillars of the dynasty are no longer completely immune from discussion.