Warriors named top landing spot for $227 million four-time NBA champion, future Hall of Fame forward

Warriors named top landing spot for $227 million four-time NBA champion, future Hall of Fame forward originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Golden State Warriors' main priority in mid-July is to outduel the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers for former Los Angeles Lakers star forward LeBron James.

The Dubs must add more firepower to their roster if they want to find themselves in the hunt for a championship in 2026-27, and James figures to be exactly what the franchise needs on the offensive end.

The 22-time All-Star has been a 20+ points-per-game scorer throughout his career, and even at age 41, he possesses otherworldly shot-creation, passing, and finishing chops that would benefit the Dubs in their title pursuit. 

However, it’s reasonable to assume that re-signing four-time NBA champion free agent and future Hall of Famer Draymond Green is also high on the Warriors’ offseason to-do list. According to Heavy’s Sean Deveney, the Dubs remain the top landing spot for the well-respected $227 million (career earnings) point forward.

“Green opted out of his $28 million deal for next season, but will be back with the Warriors,” Deveney wrote Sunday. “He is part of the team’s push to sign LeBron James, and will adjust his salary accordingly. There has been chatter that Green would leave the Warriors if they don’t land James, but that’s a long shot.”

This isn’t the first time Green has been rumored to be a part of the Warriors’ plan to land a game-changing Stephen Curry co-star. Before last year’s Feb. 5 deadline, there was legitimate speculation that the Warriors could include Green in a blockbuster trade package for former Milwaukee Bucks standout forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.

It didn’t happen, and the Bucks ultimately retained the two-time MVP for five more months before shipping him to the Miami Heat. This time around, Green has found himself at the center of a strategic plan to lure James to the Bay. Green declined his near $30 million player option to make it easier for Golden State to land the four-time Finals MVP. 

As Deveney noted, Warriors fans should expect theGreen to rejoin the fold soon, as it’s challenging to imagine the valuable distributor, screener, and defender not being a part of the organization’s 2026-27 plans.

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