Mavs Missing Piece: Sign-&-Trade for Warriors Draymond Green?
When Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison said defense and rebounding were the biggest focuses of the offseason, he meant it. That was evident by the Mavs’ moves during Thursday’s NBA Draft, as they ended up with two young, versatile defenders in Dereck Lively II and OMax Prosper.
But according to Harrison, that was just the start of something bigger with free agency set to begin on June 30.
"I can’t allow myself to take a deep breath and pat ourselves on the back and all that," Harrison said. "No, it’s go time. We’re not done at all ... This is just the beginning”
If the Mavs want to keep their trend of adding defense to the roster going, pursuing a sign-and-trade for Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green would be a logical next move. The eight-time All-Defensive Team forward declined his player option with Golden State and will become an unrestricted free agent at 33 years old.
Last season, Green averaged 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists while shooting 52.7 percent from the field. He also played stellar defense, per usual, and was the ‘glue guy’ for the Warriors in that department. A year after winning their fourth title in eight years, the Warriors got eliminated by LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the playoffs.
Does the trade of Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards for 38-year-old Chris Paul really keep the Warriors’ championship window open? Or was that a desperation move to show Green that, if he re-signs, he will no longer have to deal with the guy he gave a knuckle sandwich to in training camp last year?
And by the way, unless something has changed drastically in the last few years, Green doesn’t have a great relationship with Paul either.
Green does, however, have a good, respectable relationship with Mavs superstar Luka Doncic, who might have to put on his recruiting hat to convince Green to leave the only team he’s ever known. This scenario is straddling the fence when it comes to being a realistic possibility or a pipe-dream, but here’s what a sign-and-trade for Green could look like if the Mavs can secure a “yes” from him in free agency.
Mavs receive: Draymond Green (sign-and-trade with new contract being four years, $100 million)
Warriors receive: Josh Green (sign-and-trade with new contract being four years, $50 million) and Maxi Kleber
-OR-
Mavs receive: Draymond Green (sign-and-trade with new contract being four years, $100 million)
Warriors receive: Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber, 2027 first-round pick
As is the case with most of these sign-and-trade scenarios, it starts with what the star player truly wants. If Green wants to re-sign with the Warriors and pursue a fifth championship with an aging core, that’s what he’ll do. If he wants to go to a new team with a younger core with a chance to show that he’s not just a Stephen Curry coattail rider … then the Mavs will present him with as good of an opportunity as anybody.
Stay tuned to DallasBasketball.com for all trade and free-agency updates in the coming days.
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