The Golden State Warriors are one of the NBA's best teams this season, but as the trade deadline looms one of the big storylines is star forward Draymond Green's interest in the Detroit Pistons.
According to reports, Green is very interested in signing an offer sheet this offseason with his hometown Pistons, and they could make it difficult for the financially limited Warriors to re-sign him.
Green is averaging career-highs in points (11.1), rebounds (8.3) assists (3.6) and field goal percentage (43 percent) while providing elite defense on the perimeter and offensive versatility for the first place Warriors. With the salary cap expected to rise significantly in the near future, Green could be looking at a max contract this summer.
A max contract for Green is tough for the Warriors for two reasons. First, Klay Thompson received less than a max deal this offseason, and has experienced an even greater explosion this year than Green. Second, the Warriors are already committed to big money for Thompson and Stephen Curry, plus have money sunk in center Andrew Bogut, their most important defensive player, and power forward David Lee.
Trading Lee, who has $15 million on his contract for next season, would help the Green situation but ownership isn't pressuring management to move him because they do not want to disrupt the team's current chemistry.
Lee, 31, is only playing 19 minutes a game this year and averaging 8.5 points and 5.7 rebounds-the lowest marks since his rookie season. There is reported interest in Lee, however, provided the Warriors offer other considerations such as future draft picks in a package.
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