Draymond Green's long-term Warriors future was unclear heading into the 2022-23 NBA season. Punching Jordan Poole at practice last week likely didn't help his case.
On Monday's episode of ESPN's "First Take," analyst Stephen A. Smith predicted Green's time in the Bay is nearing its end.
"Golden State has got to re-sign two people. The three people looking to get re-signed is Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green. I can tell you right now, Wiggins and Poole are a priority.
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"I can tell you right now that Draymond Green is expecting this to be his last year in Golden State."
Green has two years remaining on his deal -- $25.8 million this season and a $27.6 million player option for next season -- but he could opt out of the 2023-24 contract year and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
"He wants to be a [Los Angeles] Laker. He ain’t going to tell anybody that, but don’t think I don’t know," Smith stated with confidence. "He’d prefer to be a Laker if he’s got to leave Golden State.
"The Warriors are probably hoping he doesn’t opt in, because they’d have to pay him on top of the cash they know they have to pay Poole and Wiggins."
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It's not all doom and gloom with Green, though. Smith believes the Warriors could cash in some positives from the unfortunate practice incident.
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"Because of [the punch], this year, I think is very, very salvageable. Because I think the Draymond Green that wants his money knows -- especially since this happened -- that he’s got to go out there, he’s got to be on his best behavior and he’s got to bring the game of his life if he wants a new extended contract from somebody else other than the Warriors."
