Draymond Green Dishes on NBA Retirement, Warriors Future amid Contract, Trade Rumors in New Video

Even though Draymond Green's future with the Golden State Warriors could be up in the air heading into the offseason, he is not looking to end his career right now.

Speaking to reporters after the Warriors' 111-96 loss to the Phoenix Suns in the play-in tournament (starts at 8:18 mark), Green definitively stated "I'm not retiring from basketball" because "I still love to play," but admitted he doesn't know if his future will remain with the organization.

"I hope I've done enough to still be here," he said. "Because at the end of the day, if I ain't done enough, I don't want to be here. I don't ever want [the Warriors] to just keep me around because of what I've done."

Warriors-Suns Highlights

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Green could have some control over his future since he has a $27.7 million player option for next season. He could decline that to become a free agent, though ESPN's Anthony Slater reported earlier this month the expectation is that won't be the case and he will opt in.

That leaves the Warriors in a position where they could think about using his expiring salary to help facilitate a potential trade. His name was reportedly involved in talks with the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo prior to the trade deadline in February.

Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. denied that Green was ever included in conversations with the Bucks.

Green explained that Warriors officials told him they went over frameworks of a potential deal with the Bucks without ever specifically including players, but he was made aware it would require either him or Jimmy Butler to facilitate a trade.

Butler, who is rehabbing from a torn ACL, will have a $56.8 million expiring salary next season that also figures to make him attractive in a trade.

The Warriors have a lot of things to figure out this offseason. One thing that seems clear is Stephen Curry will be back. He made it clear after Friday's game that retirement isn't on his radar.

For the Warriors to figure out a way to build a championship-caliber roster around Curry in the twilight of his career, they might have to take some drastic steps.

Green has been the other constant, along with Curry, in Golden State throughout the franchise's resurgence over the past decade-plus. He has spent his entire 14-year career with the Warriors to this point and remains a defensive stalwart.

The highlights of Green stifling Kawhi Leonard in the first play-in tournament game on Wednesday are an indication of his impact on that end of the floor.

In the event the Warriors decide they want to move in a different direction, Green would seem likely to be a very attractive trade target for contending teams.