After the NBA suspended Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green indefinitely for striking Phoenix Suns big man Jusuf Nurkic in the head, there's been endless speculation about Green's future in The Bay. There's little need to rehash years of Green's history as an antagonist, but it's safe to say it came into play with this decision by the league. The latest instances of Green punching Jordan Poole in practice before last season, stomping on Domantas Sabonis last postseason and choking Rudy Gobert just last month had to have been a factor in the NBA's decision. But, what has recently happened is only the tip of the iceberg for what Green has done in his time as a Warrior.
Unfortunately, things might have run their course and those incidents may now be the subject of discussions in Golden State's front office. ESPN's Zach Lowe shared that Green is Stephen Curry's “guy,” but most of the goodwill with fans and parts of the team has been withdrawn, even for a four-time champion and likely future Hall of Famer. Moving Green would not be difficult for the front office to sell, at least to the fans and media. The trickier part is getting another team to take him, his baggage and the three years and $77.7 million left on his contract after this season (with 2026-27 being a player option). In addition to all of that, Green turns 34 in March and his trade value has never been lower.
Still, from a basic stats perspective, Green has been solid this year. Assuming Green can keep himself in check following whatever treatment he receives during this latest suspension, his multipositional defense could help several playoff contenders on that end, including the Cleveland Cavaliers. Recently, NBA insider Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed a trade involving the Cavs and the Warriors, where the former four-time champion finds a new home in Northeastern Ohio.
Bailey's hypothetical trade: Draymond Green and a top-five protected 2027 first-round pick for Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill.
Bailey discloses that Golden State gives Cleveland a first-round pick because Green is more versatile. Still, he isn't necessarily better than Jarrett Allen right now and, more importantly, Green is eight years older.
For the Cavs, losing Allen could be a tough pill to swallow considering he's the heart and soul of the team's defensive first identity and core ethos. But with Evan Mobley looking more and more like a natural center, swapping Allen for Green would allow Mobley to man the middle, and although Cleveland's frontline would be smaller, it would give the Cavs a near-impossible to beat defensive duo all over the court.
Offensively, Green's passing and playmaking chops could further unlock things for Cleveland, who is already accustomed to running its offense through the big men. Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, and Darius Garland could play off the ball more, moving and cutting through actions and off-ball screens to get wide-open looks on the perimeter. In theory, Mobley could also benefit from the extra spacing Green would give the Cavs, making it less pressing for Cleveland to bank on Mobley developing a perimeter game.
Most of all, Green would give the edge the Cavs lacked last postseason against the New York Knicks. For all of his antics and on-court headaches, Green is a Hall of Fame-caliber defender. He is more than comfortable holding teammates accountable and imposing his will on opponents. When things get tight for Cleveland, Green could step up as a leader on and off the court and allow the Cavs to back up the gritty play style they preach every single night.
So, in the end, it should be something that Cleveland definitely considers. While it may not make the Cavs an instant title contender, it does shore things up rotation-wise and push Cleveland further into consideration for a title one day.
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