Draymond Green’s current contract with the Warriors runs through the 2019-20 season. Hoping to lock up the three-time All-Star for even longer than that, Warriors owner Joe Lacob was quoted in an ESPN story earlier this week, saying the team will be offering extensions to both Green and Klay Thompson (whose contract expires at the end of next season) this summer.
Green will reportedly turn down that offer, however, according to Chris Haynes of ESPN:
“With two years and $36 million remaining on his deal, Green is eligible for a three-year, $72 million extension, which would start in 2020-21.
“According to league sources, Green will turn the extension down when it’s offered. That’s because if he earns MVP, Defensive Player of the Year or All-NBA Team honors next season, he will be eligible for a super-max contract of five years, $226 million.”
Green, like Thompson before him, took less than the max during his last contract negotiation in 2015, agreeing to a five-year, $82 million deal following the Warriors’ first championship. Doing so helped allow Golden State to maintain the financial flexibility to sign Kevin Durant two offseason’s ago.
Green apparently not will not take a pay cut again, and indicated that he’ll be willing to go elsewhere if Lacob and Co. aren’t willing to pay the max:
“I don’t focus on that because as much as I looked out for the team’s success, that still helps me in a sense of winning a championship and building a legacy that lives on forever,” Green said. “I don’t look at it like it’s their turn to do me right. If I continue to play my game, if I continue to do better, they got to do me right, or somebody else will.
“I did what I did because I wanted to win championships, so that’s paid off so far. Everything else will take care of itself when it’s time.”
