Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green stays with franchise after entering NBA free agency; Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr said Golden State was committed to keeping Green and follows through on promise; Green continues playing with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to chase more championships
Monday 3 July 2023 13:37, UK
Draymond Green is sticking around to chase more championships with the Golden State Warriors after agreeing to a new $100m four-year contract, according to reports.
The deal was agreed on Friday as the NBA's free agency period began, but can't be finalised until the moratorium period ends. The fourth year is a player option for Green.
Green had said he wanted to remain with the Warriors for the rest of his career playing alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson - a trio that has captured four titles together starting in 2015.
Green opted out of a $27.6m contract for 2023-24 to seek a long-term deal.
New Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said at his introductory news conference June 19 that the organisation was committed to keeping the fiery forward, who began last season by punching Jordan Poole during a training camp practice before taking a short leave of absence.
Poole was traded to Washington earlier in this offseason, in a move that brings veteran Chris Paul to the Warriors. Paul is under contract for just this coming season; Poole is entering a four-year deal that'll pay him an average of more than $30m annually, so that move was done in large part to give the Warriors future financial flexibility - needed by the rules of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement agreement that goes into effect Saturday.
The Warriors missed out defending their 2022 championship with a loss to LeBron James and the Lakers in the Western Conference semi-finals after getting by Sacramento in a seven-game first-round series.
Green was suspended for a Game 3 win against the Kings after stepping on the chest of Domantas Sabonis during a Game 2 defeat. The Warriors became the first defending champion to rally from an 0-2 deficit to win a playoff series.
