The Golden State Warriors are expected to bring back Draymond Green on a new contract worth roughly $28 million annually after their unsuccessful pursuit of LeBron James in free agency.
According to Joe Vardon of The Athletic on July 24, Green declined his $27.7 million player option shortly before free agency to help create maximum financial flexibility as Golden State attempted to land James. The report said the move was made despite there being no indication that James would ultimately choose the Warriors, and Green is now expected to re-sign for approximately the same salary he declined.
Golden State believed its long-standing relationships with both Green and Stephen Curry could help persuade James to make the Bay Area his next destination. Instead, James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, ending the Warriors’ hopes of adding the four-time NBA champion to their veteran core.
The Athletic also reported that the Warriors explored every possible avenue to improve their championship outlook, including creating cap flexibility and considering the possibility of moving Jimmy Butler for Anthony Davis. Butler, however, is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January and is expected to miss the opening months of the 2026-27 season, making a blockbuster trade difficult to execute.
With James off the market, Golden State’s focus has shifted back to continuity.
Re-signing Green would preserve the franchise’s defensive identity and reunite the core that has defined the Warriors’ dynasty. Green, now 36, started all 68 games he played during the 2025-26 season, averaging 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks in 27.5 minutes per game. While his offensive production has declined with age, he remains one of the league’s premier defensive organizers and playmakers from the frontcourt.
Green has spent all 14 of his NBA seasons with Golden State, compiling career averages of 8.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists across 949 regular-season games. His résumé includes four NBA championships, the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year award, four All-Star selections and eight All-Defensive Team honors.
The Warriors finished the 2025-26 season with a 37-45 record, placing 10th in the Western Conference before missing a deeper playoff run. Injuries played a significant role, with Curry appearing in only 43 games and Butler limited to 38 contests before suffering his season-ending knee injury.
Curry remained highly productive when available, averaging 26.6 points while shooting 46.8% from the field and 39.3% from three-point range. Butler added 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists, while Brandin Podziemski emerged as a key contributor by playing all 82 games and averaging 13.8 points.
Golden State also used the 2026 NBA Draft to strengthen its supporting cast, selecting forward Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 overall pick and adding LaJae Jones in the second round. The organization is expected to rely on those younger pieces alongside veterans such as Green, Curry and Butler once the latter returns from injury.
