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There have been moments during Draymond Green’s NBA career when he contemplated leaving the Warriors in NBA free agency, but this week was the first time he actually was informed he was part of a trade offer ahead of the deadline.
That possible trade for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo never materialized, and when the deadline passed at noon PT on Thursday, Green remained with the only NBA franchise he has ever known.
“It’s been a weird 24 hours,” Green told reporters after the Warriors’ thrilling 101-97 comeback win over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday at Mortgage Matchup Center. “Everybody just kind of sitting on edge with the trade deadline. Then obviously the trade, lose two guys that you got relationships with — three guys, actually — that you have relationships with. But that is the business we’re in. Short-handed. Came out tonight, down 14 in the fourth quarter, guys continued to fight and come out with a big-time win after a long week. Says a lot about the character of the group.”
The Warriors didn’t trade Green, but they did deal away Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
While those three players knew Wednesday night that they were on the move, Green had to sweat out Thursday to see if the Warriors might find another trade involving him.
“Til today at 1 (p.m.) Phoenix time,” Green said when asked about when he realized he wasn’t going to be traded.
Green has been around long enough to know that very few players — in any sport — are immune to trade rumors. But that didn’t ease the anxiety leading up to the deadline.
“It got nerve-racking towards the end,” Green said. “But yeah, it is what it is. Move forward. It’s not something I want to get used to, though.”
Green has a player option worth $27.7 million for the 2026-27 season, so it’s likely that he will be back for at least one more year.
But now that he knows the Warriors are open to moving him, an offseason sign-and-trade can’t be ruled out if Dunleavy views it as the best way to upgrade the roster around Steph Curry.