Steve Kerr urges Warriors to keep Draymond Green if they want to be championship contenders

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has made his stance clear when it comes to whether or not Draymond Green will return to the team next season.

Green also recently commented on his future which has come into question now the Warriors season is over, due to the player option in his deal. 

‘If Draymond’s not back, we’re not a championship contender,’ Kerr said. 

‘We know that. He’s that important to winning, to who we are. I absolutely want him back.’ 

Green said after the Warriors’ Game 6 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers: ‘I’ve told you guys for years, I want to be a Warrior for the rest of my life. I wanna ride out with the same dudes I rode in with.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr has expressed his desire to keep Draymond Green with the Warriors

Green has a player option in his contract and can opt to enter free agency this offseason

The GSW veteran has already expressed his desire to stay with the franchise going forward

‘And I think we’ve put the work in to make that happen, and here we are with our worst season as a whole since 2014, and yet, we had a chance to make another run. It’s never as bad as it seems. It’s never as good as it seems.’ 

If Green chooses to opt into the last year of his deal it would net him $27.5million for the 2023-24 season. 

Otherwise, he would have to re-sign with the team in free agency in order to keep the Golden State dynasty together.

Green finished the season with 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game this season, along with playing his normal role as the team’s vocal locker room leader.

Kerr also admitted that the incident between Green and Jordan Poole hurt the team’s trust

Green famously delivered a haymaker that sent Poole to the floor during in training camp 

Poole recently described the relationship between himself and Green as ‘just business’ 

The Warriors’ preseason got off to a highly unexpected start as Green famously connected with a haymaker to Poole’s face during an argument that escalated during practice, sending Poole directly to the ground. Footage was obtained by TMZ.

Kerr admitted that the team struggled afterwards, he said on Tuesday: ‘Anytime some trust is lost, then it makes the process much more difficult, and there was some trust lost.

‘That’s as blunt as I can be. We have to get back to what has made us really successful, which is a really trusting environment and a group that relies on one another and makes each other better.’

Poole was also recently quoted by The Ringer when he said his interactions with Green were ‘just business.’