New detail about title-costing mistake reopens old wounds for Warriors

The 2016 NBA Finals rank as one of the most dramatic ever, with the juggernaut Golden State Warriors being upset in Game 7 by the Cleveland Cavaliers. It is still a sore spot among the Warriors and their fans, but former Cavalier Channing Frye’s comments about a pivotal moment in the series are sure to reopen old wounds. On a podcast, Frye explains that the Cavs were trying to get Warriors star Draymond Green to pick up another technical foul.

"“Everybody was trying to bait him! Are you joking? He shouldn’t have had that many fouls. He shouldn’t have been kicking people in their…. It’s not our fault. We’re supposed to take advantage; hey, if somebody’s shoe is untied, I’m gonna step on their laces. No harm, no foul. It is part of the game. He knew we were baiting him. If you watch that game, everyone was trying to bait him. And they’re mad about it,” Frye said on the Athletic’s Kings Reign podcast."

Channing Frye’s admission reopens old wounds for the Warriors.

The Warriors were indeed upset at both the Cavs and the NBA, but Frye does point out that Draymond already had an excessive amount of technical fouls. That made Draymond a target. He, himself, admitted that getting suspended likely cost the Warriors a chance to repeat. Had they done so, they would have completed their historic 73-win season with a championship.

On the other hand, losing in the Finals to the Cavaliers led to them signing Kevin Durant in free agency that summer. That resulted in Golden State making the NBA Finals three more times and winning back-to-back titles, with Durant being named NBA Finals MVP in 2017 and 2018.

Still, had the Warriors won in 2016, they could have just as easily gone to another three NBA Finals without Durant, and Golden State might have five titles instead of four. That is semantics at this point, but Frye admitting that Cleveland goaded Draymond into picking up another technical, which led to his suspension, isn’t a good look. For Draymond, that is.

Having an opposing team successfully instigate him into overreacting is a clear weakness, and he hasn’t shown much growth in terms of curbing his impulsive behavior. In the last year, he punched former teammate Jordan Poole and got suspended for stomping on Domantas Sabonis in the NBA playoffs.

The Warriors know what they are getting from Green: a player who can help you win championships while occasionally making big mistakes. Judging by the 4-year, $100 million contract they just gave him, they are comfortable with that trade-off. Even then, these comments by Frye probably bring up bad memories for the Warriors.