With the NBA trade deadline just hours away, the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in a familiar position: searching for the kind of two-way wing or forward who can elevate them from playoff hopefuls to legitimate title contenders. The problem? Their cupboard of tradable assets is pretty bare, and time is running out.
But while the Lakers are scanning the market for help, the league’s eyes are locked on a much bigger potential domino: Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Milwaukee Bucks haven’t indicated they’re moving the two-time MVP, but that hasn’t stopped teams from circling - especially the Golden State Warriors, who reportedly are willing to go all-in to land him. And that includes putting Draymond Green on the table.
Now that’s significant.
Green has been the heart and soul of the Warriors for over a decade. He’s their defensive anchor, their emotional engine, and the guy who ties everything together on both ends.
But with Golden State underperforming this season and Jimmy Butler - whom they traded for last year - now out for the season with a torn ACL, the Warriors might be reaching a crossroads. At 27-24, they’re stuck in the middle of the Western Conference pack, and the window for this core might be closing faster than expected.
If Green is indeed on the move as part of a blockbuster for Giannis, there’s buzz that he wouldn’t be sticking around in Milwaukee for long. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Green would likely seek a new landing spot - and the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly on his radar. The interest is mutual, too.
Now, let’s be clear - there are a lot of moving parts here, and even more hypotheticals. The Bucks would have to make the seismic decision to move Giannis, which would send shockwaves through the league. But if that happens, and Green is part of the deal, the Lakers could emerge as a serious suitor for the veteran forward.
Green, who turns 36 in March, isn’t the player he was during the peak of the Warriors’ dynasty, but he’s still a high-IQ, versatile defender who can impact the game without scoring a ton. This season, he’s averaging 8.4 points on 41.3% shooting, along with 5.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, nearly a steal and just under a block per game. The numbers don’t jump off the page, but his impact has always gone beyond the box score.
And there’s another layer to this: Green has long expressed a desire to play with LeBron James. The two are close off the court, and their basketball IQs and leadership styles could mesh well on it. Green has one year left on his current deal after this season and is set to earn $25.89 million this year - a manageable number for a team like the Lakers, especially if they believe he’s the missing piece.
For now, it’s all “ifs” and “maybes,” but the fact that this kind of scenario is even being discussed tells you how fluid the trade market is right now. The Lakers are hunting for help.
The Warriors might be ready to shake things up. And if the Bucks make the unthinkable move of parting with Giannis, the ripple effects could reshape the NBA landscape - with Draymond Green potentially donning purple and gold when it’s all said and done.