Golden State forward Draymond Green is not expected to opt out of his $27.7 million player option for the 2026-27 season, league and team sources told ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
According to the report, the 36-year-old is considered more likely to either:
- Exercise the option and lock in the full $27.7 million salary, or
- Decline the option in favor of a new multi-year contract with the Warriors that would start at a lower first-year cap figure.
Choosing the latter route could improve the odds of Green finishing his career in Golden State, Slater noted.
Trade rumors didn’t shake loyalty
In a wide-ranging interview, Green addressed February’s trade deadline chatter that linked him to a potential deal for Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Warriors, seeking salary matching, would almost certainly have included Green in any package.
“I’m a human being. There was a second of me that felt like, ‘Damn, they really going to do that to me?’” Green said. “But I understand this business probably as good as any player… It would’ve almost been a point of pride.”
Had such a trade materialized, sources said Green viewed the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers as possible destinations via a subsequent reroute. Nonetheless, the veteran forward indicated the rumors will not prompt him to seek a move this offseason.
Confidence in defensive impact
Entering the final stretch of his 14th NBA season, Green remains convinced he ranks among the league’s elite defenders, naming only Victor Wembanyama as more impactful. While acknowledging a decline in raw athleticism, he cited his ability to “gridlock” plays even without traditional steals or blocks.
Extension already possible
Green is currently eligible to negotiate a veteran extension that would replace the 2026-27 player option, allowing talks with the Warriors to begin at any time.
Source: Hoops Rumors
