Draymond Green holds $27.7 million in his hands, and the Golden State Warriors want him to give some of it back. Draymond must choose between immediate security or a cheaper, long-term deal. The Warriors can finally relax with head coach Steve Kerr returning next season. However, they still have a roster to fix. Draymond’s next step is at the center of those tough conversations.

Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. made it clear last week. “The ball is in his court in terms of returning,” he said last Friday during the annual end-of-the-season news conference at Chase Center. “I think we’ve had discussions where we want him to finish his career as a Warrior. He kind of feels the same way. I would expect him to be back, but it’s his call on that.”

As you can guess, the decision now rests with Draymond. He can activate his $27.7 million player option for the 2026-2027 season, which could immediately settle the situation. Now, according to insider Tim Kawakami, the Warriors are quietly trying to figure out the complicated financial situation around the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year.

At present, the Warriors are staring at a massive financial crunch heading into the next season. They already have roughly $278.3 million tied up in salary commitments. And this is the highest figure in the NBA. That also leaves the franchise about $113.3 million over the salary cap before filling out the roster. However, the team still sits around $27.0 million below the 1st apron and nearly $40.0 million below the 2nd apron, giving the front office some room to maneuver.

Therefore, Green’s player option puts the decision in his hands, but the front office would still love to lower that number. The reason is pretty clear. Getting below the luxury tax line would give the Warriors much more room to rebuild the roster while Stephen Curry’s championship window remains open.

At the same time, Draymond Green reportedly likes the idea of skipping the option altogether and locking in a longer stay with the Warriors. However, Green may not find a massive market waiting outside the Bay Area. Teams with cap space will be careful. While contenders could view him more as a $15.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception target than a blockbuster signing.

Meanwhile, the Warriors may already be sitting on the table for Draymond Green with a clean middle ground. The veteran forward could decline his player option and return on a fresh two-year deal worth roughly $18 to $20 million annually. That kind of deal would give Draymond more guaranteed money in the long run. At the same time, the Dubs could lower their cap hit and create more flexibility to rebuild the roster for the fifth title.

On the other hand, the basketball side of this equation feels even more fascinating. The Warriors don’t have a capable replacement for the 36-year-old’s defensive chaos and versatility. Especially with Butler and Moses Moody unavailable next season, the responsibility to control defense lands on Draymond again. And the Golden State Warriors seem perfectly fine with that reality.

Draymond Green holds major keys this offseason

Right now, no decision feels bigger for the Warriors than the one involving Draymond Green. If he turns down his option before June 29 and enters unrestricted free agency, Golden State gains valuable cap space. Green would test the open market after 14 seasons with one franchise. Still, league insiders believe that path remains unlikely.

He won four titles with Golden State. Every previous contract crossroads has ended the same way, with both sides choosing each other again. While Dunleavy said the ball is in Green’s court, Draymond only controls one clear path. That is, he can decline his option and search for a new team. Beyond that, the Warriors still hold plenty of influence over what comes next.

Even if Green accepts the deal, his roster spot isn’t guaranteed, and his contract could make trades harder. The 36-year-old still leads the Warriors’ defense. But years of physical play have slowed down the explosive player who once terrified the league. This past season, the veteran averaged 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.

Meanwhile, things quietly grew awkward before the Feb 5 trade deadline, as the Warriors explored scenarios involving Draymond Green. That adventure included a potential path to the Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Interestingly so, Coach Kerr and Steph reportedly already knew about the discussions. However, no deal ever happened, but the feeling stuck around. Other NBA teams now view Draymond very differently than they did during the dynasty years.

Yet, somewhere in between future uncertainty and fading performance, Draymond Green remains a crucial piece for the Warriors this offseason. If he declines his option and signs a cheaper multi-year extension, the Warriors would likely keep him off the trade block entirely.

He could recover some of that lost money in 2027-2028. And that would give the front office some breathing space. And knowing Green’s loyalty towards the team, he might even be ready to take less.