NBA 2018/19: 3 reasons the Warriors should trade Draymond Green

Not many analysts expected Draymond Green to become such a force in the NBA when he was drafted back in 2012. The Michigan native spent four years playing college basketball for Michigan State, before being drafted as the 35th pick by the Golden State Warriors.

Not much was expected from a four-year College player who had been taken by the then-struggling Warriors as a second round pick. Green went on to start only 13 times in his first two seasons in California, although he exploded onto the scene during the 14/15 season, and has since been an ever-present in the Warriors recent domination.

Despite his incredible success against the odds, Draymond has also had his fair share of personal issues, both on and off the court, and he is seen as a vital figure in Kevin Durant's future. While Draymond Green remains an important player to the Warriors, here we will explore three reasons why Golden State could be better off trading away the 3-time NBA Champion.

#3 Durant could be convinced to stay

Draymond Green and Kevin Durant clashed last month during a loss to the Clippers

Ever since Draymond Green and Kevin Durant clashed during last month's overtime defeat to the Clippers, NBA experts have argued that the Warriors need to trade Green in order to persuade Durant to stay.

The defending champions sided with Durant over the confrontation, and if Durant made it clear that he would stay in California if Green was traded away, the only outcome would be Green looking for a new team.

While the media may have exaggerated the pair's clash and the ensuing fallout, the Warriors should still do everything in their power to keep Durant, even if it means trading Green.

#2 His game will age badly

The Golden State star is known for his defensive ability

Some NBA analysts have speculated that Green's defensive game has already started to decline, and while it is still too early to confirm this, there is no doubt that the 28-year-old will experience a slowdown over the next few years.

The 2017 Defensive Player of the Year had another excellent defensive season last year, although in his 13 appearances so far this season, Green is averaging less than one block per game for the first time since 2014.

Green has always successfully masked his poor shooting skills, with his ability to use his strength and athleticism to defend like few others in the league. Despite this, his athletic ability will soon decrease due to age, and it is questionable whether he can adapt his game in order to remain at his current All-Star level.

#1 He Could Leave Anyway

Green could win a third straight Championship with the Warriors this season

Draymond Green took a pay cut on his last contract in 2015 due to his desire to continue winning in California. However, the 28-year-old has made it clear that he wants a max-contract when he becomes a free agent in 2020, and Sports Illustrated reports that if Green wins another Defensive Player of the Year award, he will be eligible for a supermax contract worth $226 million.

The Warriors simply are not going to pay that amount for a player who would have just turned 30, especially as the team will most likely already be paying max deals to both a 30-year-old Klay Thompson and a 32-year-old Steph Curry.

Ultimately, it seems as though Green has a maximum duration of 18 months with the Warriors, so the team could be wise in trading him while he is still valued as one of the NBA's premier defenders.