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Draymond Green: 5 Reasons He Deserves A Max Contract

By Gerald Bourguet

February 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) celebrates during the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Spurs 110-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
February 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) celebrates during the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Spurs 110-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Draymond Green
Jan 21, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12), guard Klay Thompson (11), and forward Draymond Green (23) celebrate after the Warriors /

Cost Of Keeping A Contender

The biggest reason letting Green go would send the wrong message isn’t just because the people like him, however. There are dozens of reasons behind the massive jump this team has made over the last year, but Green is certainly one of the biggest and most noticeable developments.

Not being willing to match for such a vital player would be taking the cheap road. It would send the message that the front office isn’t willing to pay a little extra to keep a title contender intact. Just ask the Oklahoma City Thunder about that, since their decision to move James Harden (who is now an MVP candidate, by the way) broke apart a potential dynasty.

Green is no James Harden, but the Warriors are well-positioned to absorb the hit of the luxury tax to keep him. The Dubs have become one of the NBA’s most important and lucrative franchises. They rake in millions of dollars every year with some of the most supportive fans in the league. And even if money was an issue, the structuring of their major players’ contracts is a huge help.

In 2016, Harrison Barnes becomes a free agent, but David Lee’s deal expires. The following summer, Curry will get his deserved max payday when Andrew Bogut and Andre Iguodala‘s contracts are up. In other words, the luxury tax will be worth it for a year or so to keep this young, title-contending core together, which is fully doable as long as they keep Green.

Between his defensive versatility, his vastly upgraded offensive arsenal, the intangibles he brings to the table, his intensity, his status as a fan favorite and his being a vital component of a team that could win a championship, keeping Green is a no-brainer.

Draymond Green is a max-level player, and with the cap set to raise exponentially in 2017 thanks to the NBA’s new TV deal, the Golden State Warriors should be prepared to match any max offer this summer.

Next: NBA: 50 Greatest Players Of All Time

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