Sometimes the biggest sacrifices don’t pay off. Draymond Green had declined his player option to give the Golden State Warriors the financial flexibility to chase LeBron James and build one last contender around Curry. Instead, James took his talents to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Warriors had no choice but to pivot to Plan B, which was to reward the very player who made the sacrifice in the first place.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania on Tuesday, Green has agreed to return to Golden State on a one-year, $27.7 million contract after previously declining the same player option to give the Warriors financial flexibility.
“Draymond Green has agreed to return to the Golden State Warriors on a one-year, $27.7 million deal,” Charania tweeted. “The contract is the same Green opted out of to give the Warriors flexibility to pursue LeBron James, but the sides land his return Tuesday.”
With few major upgrades left on either the free-agent or trade market, the Warriors instead turned their attention back to retaining one of the cornerstones of their dynasty. That being said, Green’s deal carries bigger implications.
NBA insider Brett Siegel noted that the Warriors still have room to maneuver despite bringing Draymond Green back.
“Assuming the exact cap number of Draymond Green’s one-year deal is the same $27,678,571 that he opted out of, the Warriors are now over the first apron and roughly $8M from the second apron with three open roster spots.”
Green’s return keeps the Golden State’s veteran core intact for one more season. He has spent his entire career with the Warriors after being selected 35th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft. Last season, he averaged 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 68 games. A four-time NBA champion and 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year, he without a doubt remains one of the defining figures of the franchise’s dynasty.
That being said, the one-year nature of the contract is as significant as the contract itself. Green, Curry, and Jimmy Butler are all now entering the final years of their respective deals. By the start of the 2026-27 season, Green will be 36, Butler 37, and Curry 38, leaving the Warriors with major decisions to make about the future of their veteran core next summer.
For now, Green’s return restores one of the NBA’s most successful duos but does little to quiet the uncertainty surrounding Curry.
The two-time MVP has yet to sign a contract extension, prompting league-wide speculation about what comes next. However, ESPN insider Brian Windhorst has repeatedly cautioned against interpreting the delay as a sign that Curry wants out.
The Warriors’ inability to land James has only intensified those questions. Reports throughout the offseason indicated that owner Joe Lacob viewed pairing Curry with James as the franchise’s best opportunity to maximize the closing years of its championship window. With that opportunity gone, Golden State now appears poised to return with much of the same veteran group while keeping its long-term options open.
Green’s one-year agreement also preserves flexibility heading into next summer. Rather than locking themselves into another long-term commitment, the Warriors retain the ability to reassess both Green’s future and Curry’s contract situation in 2027, should the organization choose a different direction.