Draymond Green's Expected Contract Option Decision Detailed in New Warriors Rumors

The Golden State Warriors are planning for star forward Draymond Green to pick up his player option and return to the team, according to ESPN's Anthony Slater.

Green would make $27.7 million for the 2026-27 season and become a free agent next summer. Slater reported a trade is possible in that scenario but not guaranteed:

"That would immediately make Green one of the most flexible salary-matching pieces if Golden State dips into the trade market in the coming months, which would generate a level of unease. But team sources praise Green for the way he handled trade rumors last season and maintain a mutual desire for him to finish his career with the franchise, if everything lines up."

Beyond keeping one of their last remaining connections to their dynastic run around, signing Green to a long-term extension would be pragmatic in the short term.

"Team sources have indicated for months that the Warriors' interest in a decline-and-extend with Green for multiple years would be contingent on the first-year salary savings (from $27.6 million down into somewhere in the $20 million range) giving them a direct path to upgrade the roster elsewhere," Slater reported.

General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. showed with Klay Thompson the organization is only willing to go so far with a franchise icon. The front office might feel even more emboldened in that regard, too, after watching Thompson's on-court value decline with the Dallas Mavericks.

Green continues to be an important piece for Golden State. He was third in the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year voting and an All-Defensive honoree that season. This past year, he averaged 11.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.2 steals.

The 36-year-old clearly isn't the same two-way player he was in his prime, though, and the trend is only going in one direction.

Getting financial relief right now isn't worth it if the Warriors are saddled with a contract that ages badly in another year or two. They're on track to have a ton of salary cap space in 2027 as well. Dunleavy can use that to either build around Stephen Curry or chart a new course in a post-Curry future.

While Green isn't destined to walk out the door next offseason, fans in the Bay Area will be advised to enjoy him while they can.