Lakers' LeBron James drops honest review of Warriors' Draymond Green's 'biggest asset'

07/05/2024 05:04

The Golden State Warriors may not have reached the playoffs this season, but they still have one of great core – headed by Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Lakers legend LeBron James, with JJ Redick on the latest edition of Mind the Game, broke down what Green’s biggest asset for the Warriors is:

"Draymond Green's biggest asset, offensively for [the Warriors] is his ability to get [Steph Curry and Klay Thompson] open and then play in the pocket… And now his IQ kicks in."

— LeBron James

(via @mindthegamepod / YT)pic.twitter.com/IHnsDaffcb

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 6, 2024

Said LeBron, "Draymond Green's biggest asset, offensively for [the Warriors] is his ability to get [Steph Curry and Klay Thompson] open and then play in the pocket… And now his IQ kicks in."

While the Warriors face roster questions, Draymond is already under contract, having signed a four-year, $100 million extension with the Warriors last offseason. If he chooses to exercise the option of the final year of his contract, Green would be signed through the 2026-27 season, when he would be 37 years old.

Draymond has proven incredibly valuable to the Warriors over the years. Green’s defensive and playmaking abilities have made him incredibly important to the Warriors’ success. However, his fiery personality has also been a key piece in Golden State’s shortcomings, particularly so this season.

Green was suspended twice by the NBA this season for on-court altercations. The first came in November when Green placed Rudy Gobert in a chokehold during a scuffle involving Thompson. Shortly after returning from his suspension, Green was hit an indefinite suspension by the league for striking Jusuf Nurkic in the face in December.

Warriors face offseason questions

After a disappointing season, changes are certainly coming to the Warriors’ roster.

Klay Thompson, who will become an unrestricted free agent with his five-year, $189.9 million extension expiring this offseason, may sign elsewhere in free agency and leave the Warriors, the only team for which he has played this season.

Thompson dealt with on-court struggles and admitted self-doubt about his play. Additionally, other teams may be more inclined to give Thompson the money he desires while not being held to the same restraints as the Warriors, who have dipped heavily into the luxury tax over the years.

Chris Paul did a fine job for the Warriors, but with such an expensive roster, it’s incredibly doubtful that Golden State wants to pay a massive per-dollar penalty for being over the apron.

Golden State still has Curry and Green, not to mention breakout player Jonathan Kuminga. That’s definitely worth something, but the Warriors will need to get creative if they want to build out their roster in a way that will get them back into contention.

All signs still point to Thompson returning to the Dubs. But just running it back with the same cast of characters clearly won’t be good enough for Golden State, especially as a young, deep Western Conference continues to evolve and the tread on this team’s Big Three continues to wear.

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