Draymond Green has until June 29 to decide on his $27.7 million player option with the Golden State Warriors. With the deadline approaching, NBA observers are coming up with potential scenarios in which the Warriors could improve their roster while moving on from the aging four-time All-Star.
FOX Sports Radio’s Mark Willard, host of the “Willard & Dibs” show on 95.7 The Game, underlined Green’s importance to Golden State on Wednesday. However, the NBA analyst proposed an “absolute dream deal” that could help retool the Dubs, who were eliminated from the play-in tournament in the 2025-26 season.
Mark Willard Implores Warriors To Send Draymond Green to Pelicans for Trey Murphy III
Willard envisions a future where the Warriors don’t want to keep the 36-year-old Green beyond his player option. In that case, he suggested a three-step offseason plan that the Bay Area franchise may be wise to consider.
“I’m willing to go the Klay Thompson route, and I say Draymond Green and two future firsts for Trey Murphy. … Yaxel Lendeborg, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Trey Murphy. … Those are the three moves that, to me, make this a home run of an offseason,” Willard said.
“Yaxel Lendeborg, Kristaps Porziņģis, Trey Murphy. You give up Draymond Green and two first-round picks. Those are the three moves that make this a home run of an offseason.”@Mark_T_Willard breaks down what he’d like to see the Warriors do this offseason | @WillardAndDibs pic.twitter.com/Khe6tV5aQi
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) June 17, 2026
After the Warriors won the 2022 NBA championship, they prioritized youth, giving Jordan Poole ($128 million) and Andrew Wiggins ($109 million) four-year extensions. The then-34-year-old Thompson reportedly wanted another long-term deal, which the Dubs refused to accommodate.
In July 2024, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Kendra Andrews reported that Thompson “felt disrespected” when the Warriors offered him “two-year contracts in the range of $23 million to $24 million” after Green received a four-year, $100 million contract. Thompson eventually agreed to a sign-and-trade deal that sent him to the Dallas Mavericks.
For the Warriors to replicate the Thompson route, the New Orleans Pelicans have to be convinced that Green’s expiring contract and two future first-round picks are fair value for Murphy.
Last season, Murphy averaged career highs in points (21.5), rebounds (5.7), assists (3.8), and steals (1.5). He is also on a team-friendly $27 million deal next season and is under contract until the end of the 2028-29 campaign.
While Green remains valuable on defense, the Warriors, who finished with an underwhelming 37-45 record, could use a youthful spark on offense. The 26-year-old Murphy is a career 45.9% shooter, including 38.2% from beyond the arc. With Jimmy Butler’s return uncertain, the sharp-shooting forward could ease the scoring burden on Stephen Curry.
Mark Willard’s “home run” offseason faces multiple challenges. The Pelicans could value Murphy more than what the Warriors can offer. Meanwhile, Lendeborg, a versatile forward prospect, might end up getting drafted in the top 10 of the lottery, preventing Golden State from having a shot at him at No. 11. Finally, Porziņģis is an unrestricted free agent, making his return to the Bay Area uncertain.
Despite the stacked odds against them, Willard and Dub Nation remain hopeful that the Warriors can figure out how to revamp their roster for a bounce-back 2026-27 campaign.
