NEW ORLEANS — With four All-Stars in New Orleans, the best record in the league and a thrilling playoff run just a couple months away, there’s so much in the present that should excite Warrior fans.
But those who want to find a sliver of concern, peer into the future. With Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry set to hit free agency this summer and others soon to follow, things are about to get really expensive. Keeping everyone may prove tricky. Financial concessions will likely have to be made.
Draymond Green’s contract isn’t up until the summer of 2020. By then, he could be eligible for the new designated player rule that would toss him into another tier of max money. So much is yet to play out between now and then, but Green made a comment at All-Star weekend on Friday —when asked about the designated player exception — that should encourage Warriors fans.
“Money doesn’t motivate me,” he said. “I didn’t even take the full max amount of money I could’ve got on this contract I’m on now. It’s not about that for me. Obviously I want to make a good living and I’m making a great living. But making an extra few bucks, sometimes that can sabotage winning. And winning is much more important to me than an extra few dollars.”
Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston could be first up on the Warrior chopping block. Both veterans will be free agents this summer at the same time as Curry and Durant. If Durant decides to take his full max, the Warriors will be unable to pay both Iguodala and Livingston their market value. As a follow-up, Green was asked whether he’d try to convince the duo to take less to stick around.
“I don’t feel the need to go tell Shaun and Andre: ‘Yo, go take less money, money isn’t everything,’” Green said. “I don’t feel the need to say that, nor will I say that. You can’t tell what guy what money he should make or what’s important to him or his pocket. I don’t count anyone else’s pocket. Will we recruit them and want them back? Hell yeah. We’ll do everything we can to get them back.”
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