Draymond Green Rumors: Warriors 'Optimistic' About Keeping PF on New Contract

The Golden State Warriors were eliminated from the 2023 postseason Friday with a Game 6 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, and now they'll embark on a difficult offseason with some tough contract decisions to make.

One of those will be whether to retain Draymond Green should he opt out of the final year of his contract worth $27.6 million this summer.

If Green does opt out in search of a more lucrative deal, the Warriors are "privately optimistic about their chances of retaining" the veteran, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.

Green has been a key piece for the Warriors, particularly on the defensive end, since the franchise selected him in the second round of the 2012 draft out of Michigan State.

The 33-year-old has helped Golden State win four NBA titles alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the most recent coming in 2022 with a victory over the Boston Celtics in six games.

During the 2022-23 season, Green averaged 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 73 games while shooting 52.7 percent from the floor and 30.5 percent from deep. It was one of his best statistical seasons since the 2019-20 campaign.

Considering Green is still competing at a high level, it's no surprise the Warriors have hopes of retaining him.

Additionally, when Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was asked during an appearance on 95.7 The Game's Willard and Dibs on Tuesday about the possibility of this postseason being the last time he coaches the trio of Green, Curry and Thompson, he replied:

"No. No. Never crossed my mind. I played on those [Chicago] Bulls teams, the 'Last Dance,' I can tell you from experience, even though everybody now says 'Why didn't they keep that team together?' That team was done, that team was finished. Emotionally, mentally, there was nothing left in the tank. I don't feel that way about this team at all, I think these guys, Steph, Klay, Draymond, they've got lots to give for years to come. I never had stopped to give that a second thought."

However, the franchise's cap situation will be very tight entering the 2023-24 season.

Golden State locked up both Andrew Wiggins (four years, $109 million) and Jordan Poole (four years, $123 million) to lucrative extensions in October that kick in during the 2023-24 campaign.

Additionally, Thompson reportedly has an "expectation" that he will be "rewarded" with a maximum extension this summer following his solid play during the second half of the 2022-23 season, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Thompson still has one year remaining on the five-year, $189 million deal he signed with the Warriors in 2019 worth $43 million in 2023-24. If the Dubs don't extend his contract this summer, that's only another tough decision the club will have to make in the near future.

If Golden State is unable to retain Green for the 2023-24 campaign and beyond, Jonathan Kuminga would be in line to slot into the starting lineup. The 2021 first-round pick reportedly wants more playing time next season, and if he's not going to have a "full-time role" he would prefer a trade, per The Athletic's Shams Charania and Anthony Slater.

So that's only another thing the Warriors need to consider this summer.