30 June 2023 , 23:07
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Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors have agreed to a four-year, $100 million (£78.6m) contract on the first day of NBA free agency.
Green, 33, declined a $27.6 million (£21.7m) player option to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career earlier this offseason. However, he is now returning to the Warriors on a long-term deal.
The deal will take the four-time NBA champion to 15 years of service if he stays for all four years. ESPN reports that, again, the final year of the agreement is a player option, by which stage Green will have turned 37.
Western Conference rivals the Los Angeles Lakers - with LeBron James and Green close friends - and the Sacramento Kings - whose head coach is beloved former Golden State assistant Mike Brown - were reportedly interested in the forward in recent weeks. However, it soon became apparent he would be staying put. The Warriors trading Jordan Poole, who Green punched during training camp under a year, was the clearest sign he would be returning.
All the noises out of the organisation were that they would do their utmost to retain the former Defensive Player of the Year. New Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy stressed that during his introductory press conference.
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"What he means in terms of this organization and this team, winning at the highest level, we feel like we have to have him," the incoming GM said of Green. Golden State's head coach Steve Kerr was similarly forthright when speaking following the team's early elimination from the playoffs in the Western Conference semifinals to the Lakers.
"Look, if Draymond is not back, we're not a championship contender," Kerr said in May during exit interviews. "We know that. He's that important to winning and to who we are. I absolutely want him back."
(Getty Images)Coach Kerr has got his wish, and the Warriors now have their veteran core of Green and Stephen Curry under contract through the 2025/26 season. Klay Thompson is now the next player they will be looking to extend, with the guard in a contract year and set to enter unrestricted free agency a year from now.
Alongside that trio, who were all drafted to the Bay during the previous decade, Golden State has already acquired veteran help in the form of point guard Chris Paul. After being traded to the Washington Wizards from the Phoenix Suns as part of the Bradley Beal trade, Paul was received in exchange for Poole going to the DMV.
Alongside that quartet, the Warriors also have another five players under contract. Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody remain on the books. They, therefore, retain the starting five that won the 2022 NBA championship and must now use the remainder of free agency to fill out their roster before camp.