It’s hard to imagine Draymond Green in a different franchise from the Golden State Warriors. However, Green himself might be open to being traded elsewhere, with an interesting caveat.
Some Speculate That Draymond Green Will Accept Being Included in a Trade
The Warriors might be in the lead in terms of which teams are in the running for Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, this will only remain the case until the trade deadline on Thursday.
When the offseason rolls through, there will be other offers that might match or surpass Golden State’s. As such, they need to convince the Milwaukee Bucks to pull the trigger now, but that might be impossible without Green’s inclusion.
It might be considered disloyal on the Warriors’ part to send away someone widely regarded as their heart and soul. However, the opinion might differ if Green himself is willing to be dealt for the chance of blowing the Warriors’ championship window wide open.
The idea that Green would willingly include himself in a trade package to improve his current team’s championship chances sounds absurd. However, one executive believes it is possible, since he’ll be able to come back to the Warriors in the summer.
“Green himself could be on board with such a maneuver,” where he could be traded and return alongside [Stephen] Curry, [Jimmy] Butler, and Antetokounmpo,” Brett Siegel said.
Draymond Green could be on board with a Giannis trade and then return to the Warriors as a free agent this summer, per @BrettSiegelNBA
“One rival executive who has dealt with the Warriors before in trade talks spoke with ClutchPoints on Sunday and brought up the interesting… pic.twitter.com/3hSQ4Q9TBM
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 2, 2026
Green is technically under contract for 2026-27, but that final year is a player option. As such, he could decide to become an unrestricted free agent this coming offseason. The chances of him testing free agency are unlikely if he remains a member of the Warriors.
If he does get traded, though, he could choose to become an unrestricted free agent. This will allow him to return to the Golden State under a more team-friendly contract, which will also help the front office put together more depth around their stars.
The idea of acquiring Green only for him to leave in the summer might be a turn-off to some teams. However, the same executive who claimed he’s willing to be included in trade talks also said not all teams are scared of the idea.
According to him, some teams are willing to help the Warriors land Antetokounmpo in exchange for a few months of Green’s services. While they remained unnamed, it is safe to assume that it’s teams that believe they are only a piece or two away from becoming legitimate contenders.
Green, while no longer an All-Star, is still a passionate and competitive player with championship experience. He’ll also provide defensive intensity for any team, which will be important in the postseason.
