Draymond Green's Warriors Future Addressed by GM Mike Dunleavy Ahead of Big Contract Decision
As Draymond Green weighs whether or not to exercise his contract option for the 2026-27 season, Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. has indicated the four-time All-Star will be back with the club one way or another.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Dunleavy said the "ball's in his court" regarding the option while suggesting that both sides would like to remain together for the remainder of Green's career.
After their season ended with a loss to the Phoenix Suns in the play-in tournament, the Warriors were in a difficult position as they began making their offseason plans.
One of their biggest questions got answered on May 9 when Steve Kerr agreed to a two-year contract to remain as head coach in Golden State.
Green's contract is the next big hurdle for the Warriors. He has a $27.7 million player option for next season at a time when they don't have a lot of financial wiggle room to upgrade their roster because Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler will account for $119.4 million in salaries between them.
Kerr, like Dunleavy, also expressed optimism about Green continuing his career with the Warriors.
ESPN's Anthony Slater reported on April 1 that the expectation is Green will stay with the Warriors, either by opting in or signing a multiyear extension that lowers his annual salary but pays him more total money and the opportunity to finish his career where it started.
There were rumblings leading up to the trade deadline in February that Green was bantered about in talks between the Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Dunleavy denied at the time that talks ever progressed to a point that they were discussing Green, though he did note other teams called to ask about the former Defensive Player of the Year.
Green himself admitted to feeling nervous about his status going into the trade deadline. There's no indication that will have impact on his option decision.
Having turned 36 years old on March 4, Green continues to be a defensive ace for the Warriors. He averaged 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game in 68 starts this season.
Green has finished in the top 11 of Defensive Player of the Year voting in 10 of the past 12 seasons, including an 11th-place finish in 2025-26.
The Warriors finished this season 37-45, their first losing record since 2019-20. They made the play-in tournament as the No. 10 seed, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in their first game, but losing to the Suns to determine the eight seed and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
