The NBA trade winds are picking up serious speed, and with Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline looming, we’re starting to see the first big tremors of what could be a seismic few days around the league.
While the spotlight naturally lingers on Giannis Antetokounmpo and whether Milwaukee plans to shake things up, there’s another name quietly gaining traction: Draymond Green. Yes, that Draymond Green - the emotional engine of the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty, the defensive mastermind, the vocal leader. And now, potentially, a trade candidate.
The Warriors, once perennial title favorites, are in a strange spot. With Jimmy Butler sidelined for the season, Golden State’s playoff path just got murkier, and the front office appears to be at least entertaining the idea of moving Green. It’s a startling shift when you consider how central he’s been to their identity - a player whose fingerprints are all over four championship banners.
But Green’s future isn’t just about what the Warriors want. It’s also about what he wants - and who he wants to play with.
Enter LeBron James.
Green and James have formed a well-documented friendship over the years, one built on mutual respect and fierce competition. And in a recent interview, Green made it clear: he’s always wanted to share the court with LeBron. But don’t mistake that for a trade request to Los Angeles.
“I’ve always wanted to [play with him],” Green said. “Saying I wanted to go to his team, that’s not the case. I’m very comfortable in my situation with 30 [Curry] and what we’ve built and what we have.”
That’s a telling quote. Green isn’t angling to leave the Bay - he’s envisioning a scenario where LeBron comes to him.
He went on to say that both he and Steph Curry have long wanted to play alongside James, and they’ll finally get that opportunity this summer at the Paris Olympics. But Green’s curiosity goes deeper than just a one-off international run.
“Just to experience it, to see how he thinks, to see, all right, what I could do to help him and his thinking. Or what can I learn and pick up about what he’s thinking.”
That’s classic Draymond - always thinking the game, always looking for the edge. It’s not just about teaming up with a fellow superstar; it’s about learning, adapting, evolving. And when a player like Green starts talking that way, it’s hard not to wonder what the next chapter might look like.
Now, let’s pump the brakes on a Lakers trade. Green is set to turn 36 in March and carries a $25.89 million price tag this season. For a Lakers team already stretched thin on assets and cap flexibility, swinging a deal for Green would be a long shot, to say the least.
But the real intrigue might come this summer.
If LeBron decides to leave Los Angeles - and that's a big if - the Warriors are reportedly a team that could make a run at him in free agency. It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. James has openly flirted with the idea of playing alongside Curry before, and if Golden State sees one more window for a title push, pairing LeBron with Steph, Draymond, and possibly Klay could be the kind of all-in move that reignites the dynasty.
There are a lot of dominoes that need to fall before that becomes reality. But for now, the idea is out there.
Draymond wants to play with LeBron. LeBron has interest in playing with Steph.
And the Warriors - for the first time in a long time - are open to change.
The deadline is coming fast. And the league is watching.