5 Biggest Takeaways From The 2015 NBA Finals

4. Draymond Green Is Worth The Max

I am officially petitioning that we start referring to Golden State’s starting power forward as Draymond “Mad Max” Green. Not only is he as infectious, lively and heart-pounding to watch as the movie itself, but this guy is about to get paid with a max extension this summer. And rightfully so.

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As a restricted free agent this summer, Draymond Green will more than likely be retained by the Golden State Warriors, who can match any offer if they’re willing to pay up. Someone is going to make Green a massive offer, especially now that we know how much the salary cap is going to expand over the next few seasons.

Owner Joe Lacob has said plenty of times over the course of this season that the Warriors will be willing to pay the luxury tax to keep this group together and win championships. Now that the Dubs have won a championship, it’s time to put his money where his mouth is and work out a max-level extension to keep Golden State’s human transformer in Oakland for years to come.

Green got off to a rocky start in these Finals, but once he and the rest of the Warriors settled down, he proved his two-way versatility and his immense value to this particular team on both ends of the floor.

He averaged 13 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game for the series, but in the final three games he stepped those numbers up to 16.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game, including a 16-11-10 triple-double in the decisive Game 6.

As a First Team All-Defense member and the guy who probably should’ve won Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green has become Golden State’s most important and versatile defender. His ability to guard multiple positions and protect the rim in small-ball lineups, not to mention his improvement as a three-point shooter and playmaker out of pick and roll sets, makes him invaluable to the reigning NBA champions.

If the Warriors want to try to repeat next year and build a dynasty around their talented, young core, there should be no second thoughts about giving Green his well-deserved max extension this summer.

Next: No. 3