For those of you who are not aware Draymmond Green very well could leave the Golden State Warriors this summer as he has a player-option for this coming summer where he could choose to opt-in to the last year of his current deal with the Warriors or choose to opt-out and seek a new destination on what could be the end of the Warriors Big 3 of Stephen Curry,Klay Thompson, and Draymmond Green. Some would say it’s the Big 2.5 since Draymmond isn’t really the star both Steph and Klay are but one thing is for sure they have been proven to be unbeatable for quite sometime dating back to their last loss which was in the 2016 NBA Finals to LeBron’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Only someone who was watching the Golden State Warriors back when they were coached by Mark Jackson would understand just how integral Draymmond Green is to everything the Warriors have done on the court for what has been close to a decade almost. Draymmond is no longer making the same impact he did in the 2010’s where he’s going to contend for a Defensive Player of the Year Award year after year or be a perennial selection on the All-Defensive 1st team as he approaches 33 years of age, but he’s still good enough to be a difference maker in the right situation which could be hte Portland Trailblazers.
If there is one similarity between Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard it’s that they are both shooting guards in point guard bodies and no one ever looks at either and thinks play-maker. You are more worried about them not catching any sort of rhythm through the course of 30-40 minutes as they are not just good but great shooters. Damian Lillard is slugging away in the Western Conference at the moment trying to not let this season slip away for the Portland Trailblazers as they look to secure one of the play-in spots out West; but the forecast says the Blazers might look to blow things up and trade Damian Lillard in the summer because even if they re-sign forward Jerami Grant over the summer they’ll remain a middle of the pack team going into next season. Bringing over Draymmond Green this summer at least keeps Damian Lillard in Portland for at least another 2 seasons beyond this one as he looks to capture that much alluded title for a Portland Trailblazers franchise he’s given his all to since Day 1 even after the departures of Lamarcus Aldridge and CJ McCollum, two of his former running mates.
Some believe Draymmond Green would struggle outside of Steve Kerr’s system since we’ve seen he hasn’t necessarily proven he’s capable of carrying a team even if he was tasked with that sort of a challenge. Most believe without targets like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to get the ball to Draymmond would be out of the league by now, oh yea it’s bad. If there is one player I have admired through the Stephen Curry era in Golden State it’s definitely been Draymmond Green, even if I hated them for bringing over Kevin Durant to help ruin the NBA for 3 seasons, Draymmond has always left his imprint on the Warriors. He’s always given them that edge where even though you never expect him to beat you himself offensively you respect the Warriors as competitors regardless or Draymmond will make you respect them. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have always been silent assassins, Draymmond has always been the utility man who does the things you can’t read off a box-score. I’ve been watching the Blazers closely this season and I just can’t spare how horrendous they’ve been in the front-court all season. If I’m Portland let Jerami Grant get his money elsewhere and focus on stripping the Warriors of Draymmond Green, they’ll use him as the scapegoat regardless if they don’t manage to repeat and win the title again this season.
I’m even willing to become a Blazers fan next season if they manage to bring over Draymmond Green, not because I’m a fan of Draymmond but because he’d be a seamless fit next to Damian Lillard who could alleviate him of having to do so much not only as the shooting guard of the team but also the point-guard and orchestrator. Anfernee Simons and Damian Lillard aren’t traditional point-guards much like Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry aren’t for the Warriors but they sure would compliment Draymmond since they can play off the ball,shoot 3’s, and score without the ball. Assuming newcomer Cam Reddish remains with Portland beyond this season that would give Green 3 shooters to work with in Lillad,Simons,Reddish which would allow for him to continue to be the 4th option he’s always been in his career. There is really nothing left to prove for Draymmond Green in Golden State regardless of how much impact you believe he’s had or hasn’t had on the Warriors’s 4 rings in 8 years. Draymmond should go make life easier for Dame in Portland much like he has for Curry in Golden State because I just can’t fathom seeing him on another team, well at least not for now. With Draymmond on board,a tweek here and there to the bench and the Blazers will have to be taken very seriously next season.
D-NBA 