As the Golden State Warriors ramp up their pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the sense around the league is clear: just about everything is on the table-except Steph Curry. And that includes Draymond Green, the emotional heartbeat of the dynasty and one of its last remaining pillars.
With Jimmy Butler reportedly off the trade block following a season-ending ACL tear, the financial mechanics of any deal for Giannis get trickier. For Golden State, making the money work likely means including both Green and Jonathan Kuminga in a potential package.
That’s a steep price, no doubt-especially when it comes to Green, who’s been at the center of everything the Warriors have built over the last decade. But if the goal is to land a generational two-way force like Giannis, the Warriors may find themselves with little choice.
So, what happens to Draymond if he’s moved?
At 35, Green doesn’t exactly fit the timeline of a post-Giannis Bucks team. That opens the door for a third team to get involved, or for Milwaukee to immediately reroute him elsewhere.
According to reporting from Jake Fischer, the trade market for Green isn’t exactly buzzing right now. One scenario floated involves the Celtics potentially flipping Anfernee Simons for the four-time champion.
Now, let’s be honest-bringing in Draymond Green is a high-risk, high-reward move for any team, especially one like Boston.
The Risk Side of the Ledger
Draymond isn’t the same guy who once terrorized offenses with his defensive versatility and anchored one of the most feared units in the league. He’s still a smart, impactful player, but projecting his production without Curry beside him is a real question mark.
And then there’s the contract: $25.89 million this season, with a player option worth $27.68 million for next year. That’s a lot of money for a player whose best days may be behind him-though, as an expiring deal, it could carry some value down the line.
And let’s not ignore the personality factor. Green brings intensity, leadership, and a whole lot of fire-but that same fire has burned bridges in the past.
Boston has built a strong locker room culture under Brad Stevens, Joe Mazzulla, and the leadership of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Introducing a wildcard like Green could either elevate that culture or disrupt it in a big way.
It’s a tightrope walk.
But the Fit? It Could Be Special
Despite the risks, there’s a reason this hypothetical won’t go away. Draymond Green in Boston could be a basketball fit made in heaven.
Start with the defense. Even last season, Green finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
If he can tap into even a fraction of that level, he could anchor a switch-heavy, positionless defense alongside Tatum, Brown, Derrick White, and others. He’d give the Celtics a small-ball five option that could unlock all sorts of lineup versatility-think a modern twist on Golden State’s old “Death Lineup.”
Offensively, Green’s value as a playmaker is often underrated. He’s an elite passer out of the short roll, a guy who sees the floor like a point guard and makes quick, smart decisions.
We’ve seen him orchestrate Golden State’s offense alongside Curry for years. There’s no reason he couldn’t learn to mesh with Boston’s core-finding cutters like Brown, spacing with Tatum, or working the two-man game with White or Payton Pritchard.
The key, of course, is buy-in-from Green, from the Celtics' stars, and from the coaching staff. If everyone’s aligned, and if Draymond truly becomes available, this could be a swing worth taking.
It’s not without risk. But sometimes, chasing a championship means leaning into the uncomfortable. If the Celtics believe Green still has enough left in the tank-and that he can elevate what they’ve already built-this might just be one of those rare moves that pushes a contender over the top.