NEW YORK – Draymond Green picked the best time to have a breakout season – his contract year.
Several general managers and executives, who spoke to SheridanHoops on the condition of anonymity, pegged Green’s value between $10-14 million per year as an unrestricted free agent this summer.
After leading Golden State to the team’s 40th victory against New York on Saturday, Green discussed his breakout season and upcoming free agency with SheridanHoops.
“I worried about that (contract) in the preseason and then I said I’m going to put that behind me no matter if I’m going to sit and worry about playing good for a contract year or not,” Green told SheridanHoops. “It’s still not going to happen until July 1, so why worry about it? It’s a great team, a fun team to be around and a fun team to play with. I wouldn’t be doing myself any justice worrying about what’s going to happen then. [I’m] focusing on this season, trying to win an NBA championship. Obviously playing well in a contract year is always great, but that’s not my focus at all.”
After becoming a full-time starter for the first time this season, Green is making the most of his opportunity with the hope of a large payday this summer. He’s averaging career-highs in minutes (32), points (11.4), rebounds (8.3), assists (3.6) and blocks (1.4) per game.
“It’s done a lot for my confidence,” Green told SheridanHoops. “You get in more of a flow, more of a rhythm and it’s been good for me. It’s helped me out a lot and [my] confidence continues to grow and grow.”
Green has also improved his marksmanship by shooting career-best percentages from the field (.437) and beyond the arc (.335).
His versatility was on full display against the Knicks, who happen to be a potential free agent suitor with only $36 million on its books heading into the summer.
The Knicks will target several free agents this summer including Greg Monroe, whom I previously mentioned at the end of December, Reggie Jackson, Jimmy Butler and Wesley Matthews (should Butler sign elsewhere) according to league sources.
Other teams with significant cap space that can make a play for Green are the Celtics, Lakers, Magic, 76ers and Jazz. Keep in mind that the Warriors also own Green’s Bird rights, which will make it harder for another team to pry him away. Golden State will have some big decisions to make regarding the makeup of the team and its salary structure going forward.
The Warriors head into the offseason with $82.6 million on the books, even without Green. With that in mind, there’s growing speculation the team will attempt to move either David Lee or Andre Iguodala this summer to help offset Green’s increased price tag in order to re-sign him. Golden State must also decide if it’s worth exercising Marreese Speights’ $3.8 million team option.
Lee will enter the final season of his contract at roughly $15.5 million. Meanwhile, Iguodala would be the tougher to trade of the pair because he has two years and $22.8 million remaining on his deal.
At Madison Square Garden, Green showed why he’s moved ahead of both former All-Stars in the rotation. He finished with 20 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in 34 minutes played. During those minutes, Golden State had a +23 rating with him on the floor – the highest rating of any Warrior.
“One of my strengths is being able to do a number of things,” Green told SheridanHoops. “If the shot’s not falling, go rebound the basketball, go get an assist, go stop somebody. That’s just what I’ve always been about really, versatility. Being able to show that on this team has been good.”
According to Basketball Reference, Green leads the league in defensive win shares (3.4) and ranks second in defensive rating (96.7).
While the Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, have garnered many of the headlines this season, I asked Thompson what role Green has played in Golden State’s success.
“He does all the dirty work,” Thompson replied. “He’s our glue guy. He’s super skilled and he does a little bit of everything. He’ll be great in this league for a long time because he’s such a competitor and he’s such a team player. He doesn’t really care about individual numbers. He just wants to win and he just knows how to win.”
After years of playing spoilers, the Warriors and Grizzlies are currently the favorites to come out of the West at this time. Other conference contenders have their share of issues.
The Spurs and Thunder have not played to their capabilities. The Clippers will be without Blake Griffin who had surgery to remove a staph infection in his right elbow and will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break. The Rockets will be without Dwight Howard for the next six to eight weeks with an ailing knee. Mavericks guard Rajon Rondo recently suffered an orbital fracture to his left eye and a nasal fracture. Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge has been playing with a ligament tear in his left thumb, which he said causes him pain during games.
“We’re pretty good, but we’ve got a long ways to go and that’s a great sign,” Green told SheridanHoops. “I think we’ll get there. I think we have the necessary pieces to get there and we’ve just got to continue to focus in, want to get better each and every time we step on the floor and I think the sky is the limit.”
The further the Warriors go in the playoffs, the more dollars will be added towards Green’s next contract – presumably in Golden State.
Michael Scotto is an NBA columnist for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter: @MikeAScotto.