After weeks of speculation surrounding the future of head coach Steve Kerr with the Golden State Warriors, both sides have come to an agreement to extend the relationship with a two-year contract.
But this also raises the question of what comes next for Draymond Green, who has been with the club for his entire NBA career after being selected out of Michigan State in the second round (35th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft. ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel said before Kerr's new deal that Green was “50/50” on returning and then noted after the deal that the Warriors legend could be involved in trade discussions while leaving the door wide open for a return.
Meanwhile, ESPN's Anthony Slater reports the Warriors still view Green as a positive presence and don't have any intention of “pushing him out.” Green and Kerr have had their spats in the past, but they both know how important they are to the organization.
“In that vein, team sources have indicated that they have no intention to shop Green or push him out,” wrote Slater via ESPN. “On the court, they still view him as an additive winner with an elite defensive skill set that plays up when the stakes rise. Off the court, the organization felt he had a positive season as a leader while his acumen and voice essentially make him another assistant coach.”
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Slater then goes on to say that the Warriors will have discussions with Green regarding a more team-friendly contract that not only satisfies both sides, but also leaves room for Golden State under the constraints of the NBA salary cap.
This past season, Green appeared in 68 games with Golden State, averaging 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per outing. He also shot 41.8 percent from the field, 32.6 percent from beyond the arc, and 70.2 percent from the free-throw line. He also averaged 27.5 minutes per outing.
The Warriors failed to make it out of the NBA Play-In Tournament, losing to the Phoenix Suns after eliminating the Los Angeles Clippers.
After weeks of speculation surrounding the future of head coach Steve Kerr with the Golden State Warriors, both sides have come to an agreement to extend the relationship with a two-year contract. But this also raises the question of what comes next for Draymond Green, who has been with the club for his entire NBA career after being selected out of Michigan State in the second round (35th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft.