Draymond Green Still Has Gas in the Tank - and the Warriors Are Listening
Draymond Green isn’t talking like a guy winding down his career. In fact, he sounds like someone who still sees plenty of basketball ahead - and not just in a supporting role.
“I feel great. I feel like I can go another two to four years,” Green said in a recent interview.
“I always want to try to compete at an elite level. If I can’t do that, then it’s not as fun.
But I’ve got more left than I thought I would at this point.”
That’s a telling statement from a player who’s built his reputation on grit, IQ, and an unrelenting motor. Green’s game has never been about flashy stats - it’s about impact.
Defensive rotations, vocal leadership, connective passing - things that don’t always show up in the box score but win games. And by his own measure, he’s still doing those things at a high level.
His outlook now is a far cry from where he expected to be. “I thought I’d get to Year 12 and I’d be breaking down,” Green admitted. “But by the time I got there, I felt like I was still getting better.”
That’s not just optimism - it’s a reflection of how his role and body have evolved. He’s still the emotional engine of the Warriors, and when he’s locked in, Golden State’s defense still hums. There’s a reason the front office hasn’t pulled the plug.
In fact, Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. pushed back on recent trade rumors, making it clear Green wasn’t being shopped ahead of the deadline. That’s a strong vote of confidence in a player who still holds serious sway in the locker room and on the floor.
Green holds a $27.7 million player option for next season, with a decision due by June 29. Whether he picks it up or not, one thing is clear: he’s not done yet - not by a long shot.
Pelicans’ Dejounte Murray Making Progress, Eyes Return to Revamped Backcourt
Dejounte Murray is inching closer to returning, and for the Pelicans, that’s more than just good news - it’s a potential game-changer.
Murray, who’s been rehabbing from a torn Achilles suffered last season, has rejoined the team in a limited practice role. While there’s still no official timetable, head coach James Borrego is encouraged by what he’s seen.
“It’s just great having him out there,” Borrego said. “What a devastating injury, but the way he’s handled it, the way he’s attacked it, he deserves a ton of credit.
You can feel his presence, his leadership, his confidence. It’s a massive boost for this organization.”
The Pelicans acquired Murray from Atlanta last offseason, but he managed just 31 games before the injury cut his season short. Now, as he works his way back, he’s walking into a very different situation.
Gone are CJ McCollum and Jose Alvarado - two key pieces of last year’s backcourt. In their place: Jordan Poole, who brings microwave scoring and playmaking, and rookie Jeremiah Fears, a high-upside guard still finding his NBA footing.
That means Murray won’t just be returning to action - he’ll be asked to lead. His two-way ability and veteran presence could be exactly what this evolving Pelicans team needs to stabilize a new-look backcourt and push toward postseason relevance.
Clippers Hit Reset With Bold Trade Deadline Moves
The Clippers didn’t just tweak around the edges at the trade deadline - they tore into the core. James Harden, Ivica Zubac, and Chris Paul are all gone, and the message from the front office was clear: change was necessary.
“As hard as these moves are, we are extremely excited about where we’re going,” said Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. “We want to win now. We believe we are going to win now, and we’re going to do it while getting younger.”
That’s a tough needle to thread, but Frank didn’t shy away from the reasoning. The Clippers were the oldest team in the league and sitting in ninth place - a combination that doesn’t exactly scream “contender.”
“We had to make some really, really hard decisions,” Frank said.
Trading away Harden and Paul - two veteran stars with massive resumes - signals a shift in identity. This isn’t just about getting younger on paper; it’s about reshaping the direction of the franchise. There’s still talent on the roster, but the Clippers are betting that a younger, more dynamic group can get them over the hump.
It’s a bold bet. But in a Western Conference that’s only getting deeper, standing pat wasn’t going to cut it. The Clippers chose evolution over nostalgia - and now it’s time to see if the gamble pays off.