Warriors Reportedly Make Draymond Green Trade Decision Amid Mounting Criticism

At last year’s deadline, the Bucks believed that Draymond Green would be involved in any Warriors deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Green’s name is back in the trade conversation, and this time the Warriors are winning.

Golden State will listen to offers for Green at the Feb. 11 deadline, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick, and Green knows it.

"Of course they're going to listen to deals about Draymond at the deadline," Amick said on The TK Show. "And he knows that; we know that. You can say the quiet part out loud. You know, it did happen last year when the [Milwaukee] Bucks were certainly under the strong impression that if they were going to do something with the Warriors for Giannis [Antetokounmpo] that Draymond would be involved."

The timeline limits what can happen soon. Green cannot be traded until Dec. 15 because the Warriors signed him to a one-year deal in the summer. The 36-year-old is in his 15th season with Golden State, and his $27.7 million contract expires at the end of the 2026-27 campaign.

That means the Warriors would be trading an expiring contract, which could make it easier to move but also reduce what a team would give up. The next question is why the idea has drawn criticism.

The numbers are the main source of criticism. Over nine appearances this season, Draymond Green is averaging 2.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.6 assists. Fans responded accordingly. One wrote, "Nobody wants Mr. Triple Single," and another argued that the Warriors, who are on a winning streak, were already pushing "trade propaganda." Another pointed out the calendar: "Bro the deadline is in three months."

The criticism started with Green’s ejection in the Warriors’ Nov. 2 win over the Suns, when he grabbed Khaman Maluach after a foul and Dillon Brooks stepped in, resulting in two technicals in the same sequence. It was the 31st ejection of his career.

ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins used the moment to go after Green’s play on First Take. He called Green “a liability more than an asset,” and asked when anyone last discussed Green for his basketball and not for fighting. Perkins said Green has been “non-existent” this season.

Green responded on his podcast by calling Perkins a “big dummy” and questioning his basketball IQ, and Perkins replied that Green is “not above criticism.” The back-and-forth has kept Green’s form and behavior at the center of the conversation just as the trade question surfaced.

Golden State's start adds a different angle. Stephen Curry is leading the Warriors to positive results, and the trade deadline may call for adding another player or two to provide more depth.

Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is the only non-veteran with a set role on the roster, which is why some argue a younger player would be more useful. Basketnews also noted that the Kings were exploring a Domantas Sabonis trade, showing that any move involving Green may depend on a larger deal.

The Warriors' own history with this question suggests caution. General manager Mike Dunleavy said Green's name came up last year only when other teams called to ask about him. That is a significant difference between listening and shopping.

One analysis noted that evaluating Green by points alone would leave out much of what he provides, and that moving him would change how Golden State defends. The same analysis said the Warriors would need a convincing basketball reason before deciding that parting with him is the way to improve around Curry.

Green's own wishes also matter. He has expressed a desire to retire with the Warriors, but he would have to take a substantial pay cut to do so, and it is unclear if he would be willing to.

The Warriors are willing to listen, and Green's low-scoring stats and age give critics an easy argument. But hearing offers isn't the same as making a trade, and no team has been reported to have made an offer.