The Warriors are making their stance clear, and they're not holding back. This time, it's team governor Joe Lacob stepping up to dismiss any notion that Draymond Green was part of trade talks involving Giannis Antetokounmpo before the February 5th deadline.
In a conversation with Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard, Lacob reinforced GM Mike Dunleavy Jr.'s earlier statements, asserting that Green's name was never on the table.
"He was never discussed in a trade," Lacob emphasized. "Mike was 100% correct.
He faced criticism for it, and I understand why it seemed defensive. But Draymond was never shopped.
He's a cornerstone of this franchise. You don’t trade someone like Draymond Green unless it's absolutely necessary-and only if it clearly benefits the team."
Dunleavy shared similar sentiments shortly after the deadline, pointing out that while other teams might have inquired about Green, the Warriors never actively included him in any proposals.
This is where things get a bit murky.
Before the deadline, ESPN's Anthony Slater reported that Green was "involved in the framework" of potential deals with Milwaukee. Meanwhile, Brett Siegel noted that the Warriors firmly denied Green's availability.
Both scenarios can coexist. Discussions about frameworks happen, formal offers are made, and sometimes, the two don't intersect.
Green acknowledged that the rumors were a burden, but he's still with the only franchise he's ever been a part of. Yet, given his $27.7 million player option for the 2026-27 season, it's likely we haven't heard the last of these trade whispers. Summers have a funny way of reopening doors everyone thought were closed.