Draymond Green has long been the emotional heartbeat of the Golden State Warriors - the firestarter, the defensive anchor, the guy who does the dirty work so Steph Curry can shine. But right now, his form is becoming harder to ignore, and it’s starting to cost the Warriors in ways that go beyond the box score.
Golden State has dropped three straight and now sits two games under .500. For a team with championship aspirations - or at the very least, playoff expectations - that’s a red flag. And while there are multiple issues at play, Green’s recent stretch has amplified a tough question: Is it time to rethink his role in this era of the Warriors?
Let’s start with the numbers. Since returning from a three-game absence - during which the Warriors actually won two tough road games in Cleveland and Chicago - Green has committed 13 turnovers across two losses.
These weren’t blowouts either. Golden State lost those games by a combined six points.
That kind of margin makes every possession matter, and right now, Green is giving too many of them away.
Steve Kerr acknowledged it after Thursday’s loss, pointing to Green’s competitive nature as both a strength and a current liability. “He’s trying too hard right now,” Kerr said.
“He’s such a competitor. He’s trying too hard to make plays and he needs to slow down.”
The problem is, this isn’t an isolated issue. Offensively, Green’s limitations are becoming more pronounced.
He’s shooting just 33% from three - a number that defenses are daring him to prove wrong. Most nights, they’re content to sag off him, clog the lane, and dare him to beat them from deep.
And when that shot isn’t falling, it puts more pressure on Curry and the rest of the offense to create in tighter spaces.
That’s always been part of the Draymond package - elite defense, high-IQ playmaking, and a willingness to sacrifice shots for the good of the system. But when the defense isn’t quite at its peak and the turnovers start piling up, the trade-off becomes harder to justify.
And that’s where the conversation shifts from performance to possibility.
Green is still a core piece of this team - not just on the court, but in the locker room and in the minds of Kerr and Curry. That trust is deep, built on four championships and a decade of partnership.
But it might also be part of the problem. If Green is a guaranteed starter and primary facilitator no matter what, it limits Golden State’s ability to explore other looks, other combinations that might better fit the roster as currently constructed.
There’s no suggestion that the Warriors are actively shopping Green, but the idea that they’d only consider moving him in exchange for a superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo speaks volumes. It signals just how tightly the organization is still holding onto the core that brought them so much success. But at some point, sentiment has to give way to strategy.
This isn’t about scapegoating Draymond. He’s earned the benefit of the doubt more times than most.
But with the trade deadline approaching and the West as competitive as ever, the Warriors front office has to be realistic. If Green’s current form continues to hinder the offense and his defensive impact doesn’t return to elite levels, it would be a mistake not to at least explore what other options are out there.
Golden State’s window with Curry is still open - barely. But it’s not going to stay that way forever.
If the Warriors want to make the most of what’s left of his prime, they may need to make some uncomfortable decisions. And whether they’re ready to admit it or not, that conversation has to include Draymond Green.