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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 18: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts during the final moments of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on December 18, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 99-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
It’s late December so, naturally, just about any story that comes across the NBA wires should be viewed through one lens in particular: How does this affect the February NBA trade deadline? The latest big story in the league actually touches a big nerve for those in the Warriors organization. which has long had a very public love/hate relationship with star big man Draymond Green.
On Monday, Green and coach Steve Kerr had an argument on the bench, and Green was so infuriated he walked off the court and into the locker room. He did not return. To be clear, this is not typical of how NBA players handle disputes with their coaches, but nothing is typical when it comes to Green. The Warriors will take their usual stance–circle the wagons, keep it in-house, say that they love Green’s intensity but they need to work with him on knowing his boundaries.
It’s been 14 years of this stuff with Green. But back to the original question: Will this affect the Warriors’ approach at the trade deadline? Will the fight with Kerr on the bench, combined with Green’s decidedly poor play this year (8.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 40.9% shooting, 32.7% 3-point shooting) push the Warriors to finally trade away their ill-tempered center?
Warriors Would Have a Hard Time Trading Draymond Green
The short answer: No.
Said one NBA executive about the Warriors and Green: “I don’t think anything changes there. Obviously, if they want to make a big trade, if they want Giannis (Antetkounmpo) or Anthony Davis , they have to include Draymond there. That was always going to be the case. But they’re not going to look to dump him.”
He pointed out that the moment to trade Green was in 2022, after Green punched teammate Jordan Poole in practice, a fight that went public thanks to a leaked video.
“If you are not going to trade him after he sucker-punches a teammate, you are not going to trade him for yelling at Steve Kerr,” the executive said. “It’s a tough sell because he has a lot of backers in that organization.”
GettyHead coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors
Would Anyone Want a Draymond Green Trade?
The issue with Green, too, is one of value outside of the Warriors. He is on a $26 million contract this year, which runs up next season, at $27.7 million. The Warriors would need that number to match in a trade for a star player, but around the rest of the NBA, that is the only value Green has–as a big-money matching piece.
Before the incident with Kerr, one Eastern Conference GM said, “Draymond fits with the Warriors. Even at his best, it was not like he was a player you could drop onto any team and he would thrive. He has a specific skill set that works with Steph (Curry) and with Steve (Kerr)’s offense. A lot of coaches would look at what he does and say, ‘I don’t want this guy.’
“He is 35 years old. He shoots 40%, he shoots like 30% from 3. I would not want him around my young players. How many of their young guys have succeeded? So you can ask, like, would they trade him? But it’s also, would anyone want him?”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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