Warriors Rumors: Draymond Green Won't Take 'Massive Discount' on Contract to Return

If the Golden State Warriors hope to retain Draymond Green this summer, they're going to have to pay him what he's worth.

On Friday's episode of The Lowe Post podcast (one hour, three-minute mark), ESPN's Zach Lowe reported that Green likely won't take a "massive discount" to remain with the Warriors this summer:

"On Draymond, I do think the money has got to be close to go back to Golden State. I don't get the sense that he's going to take a massive discount out of loyalty to the Warriors. But when you do what the Warriors just did, and you have Steph Curry, who loves Draymond Green, who's going to have a say in whatever the hell happens with this team, I just find it hard to believe that Draymond's going to go anywhere. Nothing would surprise me. Like, the Kings, maybe. I just mentioned the Pacers. I mentioned Memphis as a sign-and-trade. ... There's going to be options for him."

However, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski also reported earlier this week that Green and the Warriors "very much want to get a deal done" to keep him in the Bay Area.

Green shared an Instagram story on Friday of ESPN's Stephen A. Smith saying on First Take that the veteran forward is "easily" worth another $100 million on his next contract, hinting that that's the type of money he could be looking for. He's coming off a four-year, $100 million deal signed in 2019.

Green opted out of the final year of his contract with the Warriors for 2023-24 worth more than $27 million.

Golden State selected Green in the second round of the 2012 draft out of Michigan State and he has gone on to put together arguably a Hall of Fame career with four NBA titles, a Defensive Player of the Year award, four All-Star selections and two All-NBA selections.

The 33-year-old is also still competing at a high level despite seeing his numbers dip in recent seasons. In 73 games last season, he averaged 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.0 steal while shooting 52.7 percent from the floor and 30.5 percent from deep.

Green has been an instrumental part of Golden State's success, and re-signing him to keep him alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson would be ideal for the Warriors if they hope to compete for another title in 2023-24.