Could Pistons and Warriors get into bidding war for Draymond Green?
Could the Detroit Pistons make a real run at Draymond Green, and do they want to?
Keep in mind, Green will not be available until this year but the following season, 2023-24, But that fits perfectly with the Pistons timeline.
By then, Cade Cunningham will be entering his third NBA season, Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart and Killian Hayes will be getting ready for their fourth. Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren will no longer be rookies, having a year under their belt (although Duren still will not be old enough to drink).
The team will have been ‘restored’. General manager Troy Weaver has hinted that the 23-24 season is when Detroit intends to go all-out to win. No more rebuilding, no more tanking, simply trying to knock off Boston and Milwaukee and win the East.
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Although they are no longer wet behind the ears, the Pistons players will still be young. They could use an experienced player who does the little things right and knows how to win championships. Weaver has always said he wants veterans on the team.
Hey, Draymond Green fills the bill perfectly. When he talks (and he does like to tall), players listen.
Coach Dwane Casey prizes defense and Green is a great defensive player. He is also super-tough, Green would have fit in well with the Pistons ‘Bad Boys’ and 2004 ‘Goin to Work’ crew.
And Detroit should have plenty of salary cap space to pay him. It is obviously way early, but the Pistons are projected by Spotrac to have $90 million in cap space that year.
Weaver could offer Green a max deal quite easily and put the pressure on the way-way-way over the cap Warriors. Steph Curry would not be happy to lose one of his long-time teammates, and would probably let ownership know.