The Golden State Warriors nearly faced a franchise-altering decision at the trade deadline, and Draymond Green is now shedding light on how close that reality may have been.
Speaking with ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Green acknowledged that he understood the business implications of potential trade discussions involving Giannis Antetokounmpo — and what it could have meant for his future.
“I understand this business probably as good as any player,” Green said. “I understand like, yo, this is Giannis Antetokounmpo. They not just about to trade me for a bag of peanuts. It would’ve almost been a point of pride.”
While Green approached the situation pragmatically, he made one preference clear.
“I’ll be honest though,” he added. “I didn’t want to play for Milwaukee.”
Los Angeles Emerges as Potential Landing Spot
According to Slater, Green had alternative destinations in mind if a deal materialized.
“League sources said a reroute to the Los Angeles teams were on his radar when the idea of a possible trade surfaced,” Slater reported.
That scenario would have placed Green alongside some of the league’s biggest stars.
A move to the Los Angeles Lakers could have paired him with LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, forming a veteran-heavy core with championship aspirations.
Meanwhile, a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers would have aligned him with Kawhi Leonard, a two-time Finals MVP and one of the league’s premier two-way players.
Trade Talks Created Real Uncertainty
Green later expanded on the emotional toll of the speculation during an episode of The Draymond Green Show, acknowledging that the possibility of being moved forced him to confront the realities of his situation.
“When you’re not winning, everything becomes possible,” Green said at the time.
He described conversations with head coach Steve Kerr and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. that introduced the idea of potential trade frameworks.
“If we were to do a deal for Giannis, you or Jimmy would have to be in the trade just to make it work,” Green said, recalling Dunleavy’s message. “He didn’t rule it out.”
The uncertainty led Green to consider the broader implications of a move, including relocating and how it would affect his family, before ultimately recognizing that he did not want to navigate that instability.
Warriors Core Remains Intact — For Now
In the end, no deal involving Antetokounmpo materialized, allowing the Warriors to maintain their core.
A trade would have ended Green’s long-standing partnership with Stephen Curry — one of the most successful duos of the modern era and a foundation of Golden State’s championship runs.
Instead, Green remains a key contributor as the Warriors push toward the postseason.
He finished with seven points, five rebounds, three assists, one block and two steals in Wednesday’s 109–106 win over the Brooklyn Nets, continuing a stretch of well-rounded production.
Over his last six games, Green has averaged 8.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.5 steals in just over 30 minutes per contest.
Legacy and Motivation Still Driving Green
Beyond the immediate season, Green continues to build a résumé that places him among the league’s most impactful players.
According to Slater, Green owns the highest single-season plus/minus in NBA history (plus-1,070 in 2015–16), while his career mark of plus-4,487 ranks 15th all-time — with every player ahead of him either in the Hall of Fame or on that trajectory.
Now 36, Green holds a $27.6 million player option for next season and remains motivated to add to his legacy.
He is aiming for another All-Defensive team selection, which would place him alongside elite company that includes Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Scottie Pippen, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kevin Garnett with at least 10 All-Defense selections.
For now, Green remains in Golden State — but as he made clear, he fully understood how close things may have come to changing.
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