Warriors expect Draymond Green to return but acknowledge 'ball is in his court'

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Christian Petersen / Getty Images Share articleSAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said that while he has had discussions with Draymond Green about his future, “the ball is in his court” as far as whether the former Defensive Player of the Year returns to the franchise. “I think we have had discussions where we want him to finish his career (as) a Warrior,” Dunleavy said Friday. “He kind of feels the same way. I would expect him to be back, but it’s his call on that.” Green has a player option for just over $27 million next season that he can exercise to remain with the franchise, though the Warriors could ask Green to decline the option and work out a longer-term contract with a lower annual salary. If the Warriors want to acquire a star in a trade, they would likely need to use Green’s contract to match salaries. But it remains to be seen how the next few months unfold. Warriors coach Steve Kerr was also optimistic Green’s 13-year run with the Warriors can continue. “The number one thing is, it’s up to him,” Kerr said. “He has the player option, so he has to go through that with his agent, how that plays out. I am committed to coaching him, coaching Steph (Curry), obviously, for as long as they’re here. I look at them as collaborators, and what we’ve built is pretty special.” Dunleavy and Kerr said they would like midseason acquisition Kristaps Porziņģis and veteran Al Horford to return next season. “Those are guys that we definitely would love to have back,” Dunleavy said. “They had some really good performances this year with us. They add an element to our team that we haven’t had in the past.” Porziņģis is an unrestricted free agent, and Dunleavy said that conversations with Porziņģis and his representation will begin soon. Horford, 39, still has to decide if he wants to continue playing. He has a player option worth almost $6 million. Dunleavy also said that while Jimmy Butler (torn ACL) and Moses Moody (ruptured patellar tendon) are progressing in their respective rehabs, it remains unclear exactly when either player will return next season. Dunleavy said he expects to have discussions with Curry and his representation about a contract extension this summer. Curry, who still has one year left on his current deal for more than $62 million, said last month that he would be open to discussing a long-term deal this summer. “Yeah, that day will come,” Dunleavy said. “But I think we’ve always stated we want Steph to finish his career here, be here for as long as he wants. I’m sure those conversations can happen, and you can predict where they’ll be going. Yeah, I don’t see under any scenario where we don’t want to figure out a way to have him finish here.” While Dunleavy and Kerr sounded optimistic about being able to add a talented player with the No. 11 pick in next month’s NBA Draft, Dunleavy left all options open. “It’s a lottery pick,” Dunleavy said. “And I think in a strong draft we feel like we can get a good player, so we’ll look at it that way. But we’ll look at everything. If there’s offers to the pick to move up, move back, trade for a veteran player that could help us, we’ll definitely look at all that stuff. It’s early in the process right now, and just got through with the combine. “So, going through that stuff, starting to evaluate the prospects, but we feel pretty good about 11. Had some good success there before.” Dunleavy also left open the possibility that the Warriors could try to make a run at trading for another star. If they go that route, they’d need to use the contracts of either Green or Butler to match salaries. “I think as far as trade acquisition stuff, I mean, we’re probably always in the conversation,” Dunleavy said. “Frankly, because we have the draft capital to be. So we’ll always look at stuff, whatever we can do to make the team better that makes sense now and in the future.” Dunleavy also said the Warriors are open to having contract extension discussions with Brandin Podziemski, who just completed his third season. Podziemski would become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2027 if he and the Warriors cannot agree on a new deal. Despite all of the uncertainty, the single biggest question for the Warriors’ summer has already been answered with Kerr returning for his 13th year as the head coach. While Kerr said that Dunleavy and owner Joe Lacob “have a big job on their hands” to improve the roster, there is a renewed sense of cohesiveness at the top of the organization. Dunleavy said it was important for the Warriors to get a two-year commitment from Kerr as they try to re-work the roster on the fly this summer. “It’s his call, but we fully expect him to be here at least two years and perhaps more,” Dunleavy said. “I mean, hopefully more, I would say, in the sense of he’s really focused right now. You’ll hear from him about getting this thing right. “It’s not just a one-year swan song, ‘Last Dance’ type thing, like, ‘Hey, let’s ride off into the sunset.’ That is 100 percent not what this is about. Steve will tell it to you. I’ll say it. Joe would not have been good with that. Nobody wants to do that. We got to get this thing right, and you know, we need a multi-year commitment. Steve unequivocally gave us that.” Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms