Draymond Green

Draymond Green
SF/PF/C - 6’7, 230lbs - 28 years old - 6 years of experience

Perhaps the key to this dynastic Golden State Warriors team over the last few years was not so much the ridiculous outside shooting of Stephen Curry, the man who was the pioneer of the 35-footer in a way that will soon be poorly mimicked by the rest of the league. Instead, it may have been the decision to move Draymond Green, 6’7 forward who once had athleticism concerns (believe it or not), to the small ball centre position.

At the time quite pioneering, it still is not exactly completely mimicked around the league; that said, Green’s success at playing interior defence despite having perimeter player size has in large part opened up this new orthodoxy, whereby big men are required now to be more of a part of defending the perimeter, as well as blocking shots around the basket. He remains the ideal for this template, and impersonators are just that.

This time last year, we were wondering whether Draymond would be able to sustain his place within this Warriors dynasty, on account of his volatility on the court. Green is an emotional player, something that always seems to hang slightly in the balance. Nevertheless, if there is any significant amount of bad blood within the Warriors unit, they have put on a good face over it. Green, it seems, is the vocal leader on the court, and while it is baffling that he seems to need to antagonise the opposition quite as much as he does, at least he uses that to improve his play on both ends of the court.

As unique as Curry, if not more so, Draymond is the heart of the Warriors’ defence. It's not easy to transplant hearts.

Player Plan: Two years and $36,008,695 remaining. The cost of re-signing is at least two years down the road, and things might be very different by then.

Draymond Green
SF/PF/C, 6’7, 230lbs, 27 years old, 5 years of experience

Three-point rate up, free throw rate down, three-point efficiency down, free throw efficiency up. Gave up some offensive and rebounding share, because of course he did, and countered with probably his best defen-sive season yet. The idea that he could sabotage a team with his intensity, or whatever you wish to call it, has not yet happened.

Player Plan: Three years remaining at circa. $52.4 million left on this deal. Should it ever need to be moved, it is very movable. But there is no need for it to be moved.

[...] Picking up Lucas's slack was junior forward Draymond Green, whose versatility is mentioned second only to his name. Green averages 12.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.2 blocks, leading the two in all of those categories except points, where he is second to Lucas. (Korie Lucious just about pipped him with 4.1 assists, but he no longer counts. In my mind, at least.) Green's versatility and statistical impact comes in conjunction with the development of his perimeter skills - always a power forward/centre type, the 6'6 Green is having to become the small forward more suited to his frame, and has therefore improved his handle and added a 37% three point shot. His passing vision and decision making are self-evident, and there's some offense in the post to go along with that jumper. But despite the passing, the rebounding, the strength, the shot and the defensive instincts, Green is just simply rather slow. For all his defensive stats, therefore, he has a problem on that end. Interior players are too big for him, and perimeter guys are too fast, and the 3.3 fouls in 29 minutes per game hint at his problems here. Green impacts the game on the defensive end by floating around and using his smarts to cause turnovers, playing as much help defense as he can, and to good effect. But in any kind of isolation situation, he can be left wanting.