Nearly 72 hours after LeBron James chose the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency, the Golden State Warriors still have not locked down Draymond Green on a new deal. And for a fan base waiting for any sign the front office has something bigger cooking, that delay is starting to feel like the only sliver of hope left.
Golden State has had close to a month to sort out what Green’s contract would look like if James didn’t come their way. That makes the hold-up strange, especially with Joe Vardon of The Athletic reporting that the Warriors are expected to give Green a new deal starting at $28 million, a figure that lines up with the player option he originally declined.
So why hasn’t it happened yet?
One possibility, though it sounds remote, is that Green is still weighing his future and could be tempted by another destination, even the 76ers on a cheaper deal to join James. That feels unlikely, but it’s at least part of the conversation.
Another explanation is far more mundane: the timing simply hasn’t lined up, or the sides are ironing out small details before making anything official. The weekend could be part of that. It’s also worth noting that James Harden still has not re-signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers since the James decision.
The most encouraging scenario for Warriors fans is the one that points to something larger. Maybe Golden State is still working on another move, and Green’s contract has to be settled before that can happen. That would make more sense if the team is trying to navigate a trade, since there are very few unsigned players left who would meaningfully move the needle on a contract worth more than seven figures.
After missing on James, the Warriors don’t have much in free agency that can really change the mood. DeMar DeRozan and Bradley Beal are still out there, but neither feels like the kind of answer that lifts a team that missed the playoffs last season and is already dealing with Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody injuries.
If Golden State is going to salvage this offseason, it probably has to come through a trade. Trey Murphy III is one name that could actually shift the outlook if the Warriors finally manage to land a player they’ve been linked to for a while.
For now, though, the lack of movement on Green is what stands out. Years of standing still have made it hard to trust that something is brewing, but this delay is at least enough to keep the speculation alive.
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