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Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green knows his future with the franchise is a little murky as it weighs up a trade for the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic.
Amick reported Tuesday that “Green and his camp are well aware that the prospect of him being sent to Milwaukee is very real.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he spoke to Green about being included in trade talks:
“This is probably the first time since I’ve been here that his name has ever really been mentioned in trade talks. So it’s different. But it’s also part of the league.”
ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported Green’s name has been included in “active” trade talks: “General manager Mike Dunleavy and controlling owner Joe Lacob have maintained a motivation to get a trade for GiannisAntetokounmpo across the finish line and, as part of that, Green’s name has been involved in the framework of available offers to the MilwaukeeBucks, league sources said.”
Antetokounmpo is earning $54.1 million this season, so the Warriors have to send out a lot of money in order to make a trade work. Green counts for $28.9 million, and Jimmy Butler’s torn ACL is another consideration at play.
“What’s more, league sources say the Bucks are known to be prioritizing impact players in talks and, as such, would prefer a healthy player like Green as opposed to one in Butler who likely won’t return until midway through next season,” Amick wrote.
Golden State already broke up the “Splash Brothers.” The organization put sentiment aside when Klay Thompson was approaching free agency and didn’t stand in the way as he signed with the Dallas Mavericks.
One presumes the front office would be equally pragmatic with Green if trading him means getting a piece as big as Antetokounmpo.
The Warriors aren’t the only team in the frame for the two-time NBA MVP.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves have shown serious interest. Brian Windhorst of ESPN followed up Monday to report the Timberwolves are trying to rope in a third and even fourth teams in a possible deal.
According to Amick, people around the NBA questioned whether the Cleveland Cavaliers might make a run at Antetokounmpo as well, but they have shifted their focus to Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden.
The Warriors know that every sports dynasty ends sooner or later, and one could argue that period is already over in the Bay Area.
With that in mind, the franchise faced one of top options.
It could’ve allowed the Big Three of Green, Thompson and Stephen Curry to all wind their careers down together, with the emphasis less on chasing another title than on celebrating what the trio accomplished in the past. Instead, the pursuit of one more championship with Curry is the operative mission, and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. will do whatever he can do achieve that.
Green has said in the past he wants to retire with the Warriors, but it might be out of his hands.