Draymond Green Is Indispensable; Golden State Warriors Can’t Afford To Turn On Him

Draymond Green, perennially in the news for the wrong reasons, is perhaps on thin ice with the Warriors. But the 2015 champions have no option but to put up with Green’s antics. Here’s why:

Draymond Green can get away with murder. Well, not literally, but it’s difficult to quantify the value the forward brings to the Golden State Warriors on a nightly basis.

Some would reason that Green’s value to the Warriors supersedes even that of franchise player Stephen Curry. There’s a legitimate argument there.

For the last few years, we’ve heard the jargon; Green is the team’s spiritual leader, emotional center and what not. But his true worth is from a strategic standpoint.

The Warriors won 51 games in the 2013-14 season. They were a solid team. But their fortunes changed overnight when Green replaced an injured David Lee in the starting unit during the first month of the 2014-15 season.

That’s when the Warriors found something special, the intangible essentials that propelled them to elite status, the chemistry, the team defense and court spacing.

No disrespect meant to Lee, a former All-Star, but the power forward’s injury is perhaps the best thing that ever happened to that franchise in Oakland.

Lee was Curry’s pick-and-roll partner for four full seasons. They had a good thing going. But Green’s arrival changed the tide.

Suddenly, Curry had a partner who could stretch the floor and shoot threes, switch and defend nearly all five positions and a playmaker who made high IQ decisions.

Popular ESPN analyst Stephen A Smith reckons that the Warriors will “turn on Green” if the former Spartan continues to push the proverbial envelope.

"“Do not think for one second that they (the Warriors) won’t turn against you (Green) in a flash. The Warriors have Kevin Durant now. Draymond has the requisite skills that compliment Durant, Curry and Klay Thompson. But it also diminishes the need for him if he becomes too problematic,” Smith said on Monday’s edition of First Take."

Smith proceeded to warn Green, who, inside the last two months, has been suspended from a closeout game in the NBA finals, arrested for battery and assault, and embarrassed on social media for accidentally posting a picture of his genitals.

"“Warriors are scheduled to move into a new arena in a couple of years. In Stephen Curry, they have the golden boy of the league, one of the true gentlemen this sport has ever seen. Joe Lacob, their owner, considers them the new standard bearers.”"

"“When you look at from that perspective, I’m just giving Green a heads up. I don’t care how much they love you or hug you (at the moment). Don’t push the envelope if you want to stay in Oakland. They will turn on you in a heartbeat. There’s a history of players who were shell shocked that an organization that loved them dearly decided to say goodbye. Be careful.”"

Smith does make some valid points. Earlier this year, owner Joe Lacob told the New York Times Magazine that the Warriors were “light-years ahead of probably every other team in structure, in planning, in how we’re going to go about things.”

From a PR standpoint, the Warriors could find it hard to justify Green’s worsening public image. But just like any successful organization, they’ll just have to figure out a way to mask one player’s reputation simply because the said player is too critical to its on-the-court success.

Draymond Green is the engine that runs the Warriors. Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Durant doesn’t reduce Green’s importance

Smith is mistaken when he reasons that Durant’s arrival diminishes the need for Green. Durant isn’t as good a playmaker or defender. In the Warriors offense, the way it’s currently constructed, Durant wouldn’t need to work too hard to get open looks.

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But removing Green from that offense would mean additional playmaking duties for Curry, who has thrived as an off-the-ball point guard in recent years. It’s Green who allows Curry to run around screens and not worry about setting up teammates. Green makes life easier for Curry.

Again, Green is nearly indispensable. And the Warriors coaching staff knows that.

The 26-year-old has revolutionized the big man position. In the past, we’ve seen the likes of Larry Bird, Lamar Odom and LeBron James excel in a point-forward capacity. But none of those great players played true center while giving up nearly three or four inches against a matchup.

Switch Green with Durant as the small ball 5 and the Warriors wouldn’t be the Warriors.

Chris Bosh, a true power forward, played the 5 for those Miami Heat championship teams. Similarly, the 2013-14 Spurs were ultra-efficient with playmaking-forward Boris Diaw in the frontcourt.

But those teams weren’t as cohesive on offense, and not as component playing switch defense the way these Warriors are with Green at the 5.

Draymond Green (23) has the ability to get under a star player’s skin, a skill that every championship team needs. Yes, it’s a skill! Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not far-fetched to assume that opposition coaches are more worried about Green’s relentless energy and ability to alter shots in the paint, even more so than the marksmanship of the Splash Brothers. Curry has the superior skills but Green makes the Warriors tick.

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Green led the historic 73-win Warriors in the following vital categories last season: 1) assists (7.4 per game), 2) rebounds (9.5 per game), 3) minutes (34.7 per game), 4) Defensive Win Shares (5.1).

He was second in 1) blocks (1.4 per game), 2) Defensive Rating (100), 3) Value Over Replacement Player (5.5) and 4) Win Shares (11.1).

Besides all the stats, there are the intangibles that simply cannot be captured on a box sheet.

There’s another irrefutable fact: Draymond Green was the only Warrior to be on the court during all 73 wins last season. Not even Curry or Thompson can lay claim to that.

Also, with the chips on the line during the Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Green registered 32 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists while the Splash Brothers combined to shoot 12-for-36 from the field.

Just think about that.