Draymond Green Reveals Almost Leaving for The Grizzlies Proved His Worth to Warriors

The Warriors reportedly came close to losing Draymond Green to the Grizzlies in free agency a couple of years ago.

Draymond Green Reveals Almost Leaving for The Grizzlies Proved His Worth to Warriors

Draymond Green (Image credits - Bleacher Report)

There is doubt that Draymond Green has cemented himself as one of the greatest players in the Golden State Warriors’ history. He was drafted by the Dubs as a second-round pick in the 2012 NBA draft and became one of the core members of their dynasty.

Green was never blessed with much talent or skill, and he wasn’t particularly athletic. But he harnessed his skill set to the fullest and became a leader in the locker room.

He has completed 14 seasons in the NBA. During his career, he has won four championships in six NBA Finals, was named an All-Star four times, and won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2017.

However, he came very close to being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023.

I called the Warriors and said ‘Yo I’m gonna go to the Grizzlies, can y’all do all y’all can do to work that sign-and-trade and make it work for me?’ and to the Warriors credit, they then went into negotiations with the Grizzlies and I will say, but once they moved the goalposts, it also was clear to me like ‘they really want me here’ and at that rate it’s like ‘let’s go, let’s get this done’.

Draymond Green on The Draymond Green Show

Draymond Green revealed that the Grizzlies offered him $10 million when he was a free agent in 2023. It was just one year after he won his fourth title, but the signs were there that they were a fading dynasty. However, he realized that the Warriors wanted to keep him during those negotiations.

This was not the last time Green was close to leaving the organization. Earlier this year, the Warriors were looking to use him in a trade package for Giannis Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline this year. But the move did not take place, and the Greek Freak ended up joining the Miami Heat in the summer.

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Draymond Green on the importance of having options

Over the past decade, Draymond Green has established himself as one of the greatest defenders in the game. He may not be an athletic specimen like many of his peers, but his quick hands and high IQ in defense have been instrumental to the Warriors over the years. The forward has always been a player defined by stats.

Draymond Green
Draymond Green (Image credits – ESPN)

After the Grizzlies offered him a contract, Green tried to use it as an option to see how much the Warriors would offer him if they were willing to keep him.

The Warriors didn’t really have the money that I wanted. And the Grizzlies ended up offering me $10 million more per year than ultimately where we ended up at. I do think it was important that we had the Grizzlies and we had that deal on the table to make the Warriors do all that they can to come up in the negotiation. It wasn’t a ploy. You have to have other options.

Draymond Green on The Draymond Green Show

With the Grizzlies showing potential as future contenders and the Warriors aging, Green wanted to make the most of his final years. But in the end, he decided to stay and sign a four-year, $100 million deal.

The Warriors are an aging roster and well past their prime

After reaching six NBA Finals in a row from 2015 to 2019, the Warriors have seen a steady decline. While they lifted the championship in 2022, they have missed the playoffs in four of their last seven seasons.

They did show some signs of life after the trade deadline last year, after trading for Jimmy Butler. They reached the second round of the playoffs last year and were looking to do better in the 2025-26 campaign. Unfortunately, Butler tore his ACL in January, and their season pretty much came to an end.

After a poor 2025-26 season that missed the playoffs, the Warriors were expected to make big moves this summer. After missing out on LeBron James, the Warriors have largely remained passive in the offseason and did not make any significant acquisitions.

Till Butler returns early next year, it will be up to Stephen Curry and Draymond Green to keep the Warriors in playoff contention. However, they are far from title contenders as presently constructed. But Green will not be regretting not joining the Grizzlies, as the franchise has hit the reset button after failing to make any noise in the playoffs.

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