Draymond Green Almost Played for This NBA Team
It's been an unusual period for Golden State Warriors fans. The team recently saw Klay Thompson, a key member of their dynasty, depart to sign a multi-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks in a sign and trade. But there's more; last season, the Warriors nearly lost another pivotal figure. That player is none other than Draymond Green.
Green actually revealed this on his podcast "The Draymond Green Show". He is an underrated podcast host and it is certainly worth checking. Green himself confirmed that he nearly parted ways with the team during the last offseason. His exact words were as follows:
"Last year, during free agency, I called Klay, and I called Steph. Separate calls. And Steve. And I was just telling them, like, 'Yo, I'm leaving; I'm going to Memphis.'"
It's hard to fathom, but Draymond Green nearly joined the Memphis Grizzlies, which would have been an odd turn of events. At that time, the Grizzlies were struggling, particularly with their performance at the end of the playoffs. Dillon Brooks was causing trouble on the court, and another video surfaced of Ja Morant recklessly handling a gun.
Had the Grizzlies acquired Draymond, it's likely that both the grizzlies fanbase and the entirre sports media would have disapproved of the addition, given Draymond's reputation for aggressive play.
Fortunately for the Golden State Warriors, Draymond reconsidered and chose to stay, signing a four-year, $100 million contract. It was probably for the best, as Draymond Green in a Memphis jersey would have been an unusual sight after his 12-year tenure with the Warriors.
It's intriguing to think about the potential "what if" scenarios that could have happened had Draymond left. Would Klay Thompson have remained in Golden State with a salary increase? Could the Warriors have dismantled their core and initiated a rebuild? What would the Memphis Grizzlies' situation be today? How long would Green have lasted in Memphis? Sadly, these are questions that will remain unanswered.