LeBron James officially announced he’s putting on a Philadelphia 76ers jersey, ditching the Lakers after eight years. That news dropped Friday, and man, it definitely crushed any lingering hope Warriors fans had about King James staying out West. Now, with LeBron off the board, Golden State is scrambling, especially when it comes to a certain star.
The Big Gamble Draymond Green Took
Here’s the real kicker: While Warriors fans were dreaming of LeBron, Draymond Green himself became an unrestricted free agent. He passed on his $27.6 million player option for the 2026-27 season. Why? To give the Warriors the financial flexibility to, you guessed it, make a run at someone like James. That was a huge gamble, right? Now, with LeBron in Philly, you’ve gotta wonder what happens next for Green and the Bay Area squad. They still have their core stars like Stephen Curry, so it’s not all doom and gloom, but Draymond’s situation is the immediate fire they need to put out.
A One-Year Deal Could Create Huge Instability
Before LeBron even made his big announcement, ESPN’s Anthony Slater weighed in on the Warriors’ likely backup plan. He said on Wednesday that if LeBron didn’t sign, the Warriors could just slide Draymond Green a one-year, $27 million offer. Basically, it’d put him right back on the player option he turned down! This move, according to Slater, would keep the Warriors’ long-term financial flexibility intact and give Green the payday he wants. Sounds simple enough, but hold up, this has some major consequences.
If Green signs that one-year deal, suddenly Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green himself would all be playing on expiring contracts. Talk about putting all your eggs in one basket! Slater noted, “Fans don’t like to hear this but optionality, flexibility, they can go after future stars.” So, while it gives them options down the line, it means their entire star core could be gone in a year. It’s a messy situation for sure, but you know the folks running the show are hammering out the details. This is way too important to punt down the road until next season, their whole future could be riding on it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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