Golden State Warriors Rumors: Draymond Green will likely leave in free agency this summer

Draymond Green will become a free agent at the end of the season if he opts out of his contract with the Golden State Warriors. The latest rumors suggest that Green might be playing his final season for the defending champions. It's possible he could leave in free agency in the summer.

A Western Conference executive told Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports that there's a "pretty strong" chance that Green could leave the Warriors. The executive explained that Green's punch on Jordan Poole in the offseason sealed his fate in the organization.

"If they win a championship again this year, there will be pressure to keep things together," the exec said. "But the stuff with the punch in the preseason, that probably put the nail in it. There was already a good chance he would go just because his production is not what it was, and he is getting older. It would be hard to justify paying him $20-something-million a year."

Draymond Green will be 33 if he enters free agency next year. Despite his age, he remains one of the best defensive players in the league. His playmaking and basketball IQ could be an asset for teams looking for leadership.

The only problem with Green is that he could rub other players the wrong way. However, he's also a four-time NBA champion and a former Defensive Player of the Year.

Green is having a good season by his standards, averaging 8.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists. The Golden State Warriors will have to overcome their slow start to the season as well as the injury to Steph Curry.

One of the teams linked with Green are the LA Lakers. The four-time champion is friends with LeBron James, and the Lakers will have salary cap space next year.

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Draymond Green denies rumors linking him with LA Lakers

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors and LeBron James (right) of the LA Lakers

Draymond Green has been linked with the LA Lakers since signing with Klutch Sports a few years ago. Green has played his entire career with the Golden State Warriors, so it's difficult to see him leaving the Bay Area.

However, the incident with Poole might have changed everything for Green. He acknowledged the possibility of becoming a free agent while denying the Lakers rumor in an interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape.

"I never said that," Green said. "People can say what they want. I'm also not really one to react much to what one may say. I react to things when I want to react to it. I don't react to things just because somebody said it."