Draymond Green isn’t heading to the bench just yet.
That’s the message coming out of Golden State as the Warriors keep the veteran forward in a starting role, despite the growing chatter from fans who wanted to see the team hand more minutes to a new wave of forwards like Yaxel Lendeborg and Gui Santos. Green has started for the Warriors ever since he stepped in for an injured David Lee at the beginning of the 2014-15 season, and that run is set to continue.
Head coach Steve Kerr has confirmed, via ESPN’s Anthony Slater, that he plans to keep Green and Stephen Curry’s minutes closely linked. That connection has been a cornerstone of Golden State’s success for 14 years, and Kerr is leaning into that chemistry and championship history rather than breaking it up.
For now, that means Green should remain in the starting frontcourt, where he can still function as a facilitator while Curry works away from the ball. Even with Green’s individual production trending down, his value is still tied directly to what he unlocks for Curry.
None of that means the situation is settled for the long haul. A move to the bench could still come at some point over the next 12 months, but Green will first have to prove he can keep his spot in the lineup and stay in a 25-plus-minute role. He’ll also have to justify his place on the roster, with the 36-year-old entering the season on a $27.7 million expiring contract.
Golden State was apparently open to moving him in deals for Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kawhi Leonard before February’s deadline, and there’s already talk that a midseason trade could surface again if the team gets off to a poor start.
The bigger opening-night question is who joins Curry and Green in the first five against the Los Angeles Lakers in three weeks. Kristaps Porzingis is expected to be the starting center, but another health issue at the start of training camp has left his availability uncertain.
If that uncertainty lingers, the Warriors could go small and slide Green to the five, which would create room for Kerr to start the young duo of Lendeborg and Gui Santos, who are competing for the same spot.
In the backcourt, Brandin Podziemski and De’Anthony Melton appear to be fighting for the starting job next to Curry. Golden State’s first preseason game against the L.A. Clippers on Sunday should offer a clearer read on how Kerr wants to line things up.
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Warriors May Benefit From The Anthony Davis Situation Getting Messier
The Anthony Davis trade chatter has taken another turn, and it could matter for Golden State as much as anyone. Washington is now reportedly exploring a path that would send Davis to Detroit for restricted free agent Jalen Duren, a framework that speaks to how aggressively the Wizards are trying to move on and how complicated the market has become around the veteran big man.
For the Warriors, the bigger issue is leverage. They were already among the teams linked to Davis as they continue to look for help at center, and the more public Washington makes its willingness to deal him, the harder it may be to command the kind of return that once seemed possible. Golden State still fits the conversation if Davis becomes available in season, but the path to a deal may be getting messier by the day. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Kerr Already Locked In Golden States Core Camp Decision
Draymond Greens summer took a familiar turn for Golden State, with the veteran forward opting out to help create cap space before eventually returning on the same one-year, $27.7 million deal. Stephen Curry, meanwhile, remains the franchise centerpiece after signing a two-year, $116 million extension that includes a player option on the final season, keeping the Warriors core structure intact as training camp approaches.
Steve Kerr has already made one lineup choice clear for the new season, and it speaks to how the Warriors want to open this next chapter. Green and Curry will be on the floor together when the season begins, preserving the veteran backbone that has defined Golden State for years while leaving the bigger questions about how the rotation evolves around them for later. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Already Face A Porzingis Problem At Training Camp
The Warriors brought Kristaps Porzingis back on a two-year, $40 million deal with a player option for the second season, betting on his size and versatility to give them a real boost in the middle. But training camp has already opened with a reminder of how fragile that plan can be, as the veteran center is out indefinitely because of a health issue, according to the team and coach Steve Kerr.
Golden State is treating Porzingis situation day to day and is hoping he improves quickly, but the uncertainty leaves the front line in a familiar holding pattern. If he is not ready when the season opens, Al Horford would be the likeliest candidate to step into the starting five, giving the Warriors an experienced fallback while they wait to see whether their new big-man investment can get on the floor. [Read more 🡒]