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Golden State Warriors All-Star forward Draymond Green believes he deserves a max contract once he hits unrestricted free agency, either next summer or the following.
However, former NBA player-turned TNT analyst Charles Barkley thinks the Warriors should treat Green like an overpriced role player and move on.
During an appearance on the “Dan Patrick Show,” Barkley was asked whether or not the Warriors should retain Draymond Green given all their young talent. Barkley first spoke about Green’s success as a “role player” for the Warriors. He then acknowledged that Green’s time with the team is probably coming to an end.
“I mean, he’s been a heck of a player. He’s a great role player. He’s probably gonna be here two more years and they’re gonna move on. But that’s the way sports work,” Barkley said.
Barkley added that Green should not be mad when the team moves on from him as he’s not as good as he used to be.
“He’s been very well compensated for what he’s accomplished. But you can’t get mad when teams want to move on from you. You get paid for what you do, not what you used to do,” Barkley added.
(Barkley's comments about Draymond Green start at the 6:47-mark below)
These are obviously harsh words for a player who is a four-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year winner. Draymond Green has played a key role in all four of the Warriors' title triumphs since 2015.
He has also been the heart and soul of the team since they drafted him back in 2012. However, Green is 32 and has dealt with injuries in the past. So there is an argument that the Warriors might be better off developing their young core over re-signing Green.
How important is Draymond Green to the Warriors?
In terms of Draymond Green’s current importance to the Golden State Warriors, it’s clear the team is still much better when he’s on the court. Last season, for example, the Warriors went 34-12 (73.9% winning percentage) in the 46 games that Green played.
In 36 games without Green, the team went just 19-17 (52.8% winning percentage). That’s the difference between a 61-win pace and a 43-win pace.
The Warriors defense, in particular, played significantly better when Green was on the team. The team had a defensive rating of 102.8 when Green was on the court and a defensive rating of 107.3 when he was on the bench.
The Boston Celtics led the NBA in team defensive rating at 106.2 last season, slightly ahead of the Warriors, who finished second at 106.6. So it’s clear Green is a big part of that ranking.
The Warriors will now have to decide if Green’s defense as well as his playmaking make him worthy of a max contract extension in free agency. They will also have to decide if young, unproven players like Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and James Wiseman are ready to step into bigger roles.
If the Warriors can bank on the development of their young guys, they should be able to sustain the loss of Green in free agency. It will certainly be a tough choice for Golden State, but given their recent track record, it’s likely they will make the right decision.
