Warriors seeking trade options amid Draymond Green's absence?

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23)

There’s an “expectation” that Draymond Green will not take the floor again for the Warriors until at least early 2024, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said on Friday during an appearance on NBA Countdown (YouTube link). While there isn’t a definitive timeline, Green would miss at least nine games if he doesn’t play until 2024. He was suspended by the league indefinitely after striking Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face during a Dec. 12 matchup.

Green missed five games earlier this season due to a suspension following an on-court incident with Rudy Gobert. Wojnarowski thinks that Green’s current absence could be approximately double the amount of games he received for the Gobert altercation.

The Warriors are currently on a three-game losing streak and have dropped 12 of their last 16. Because of their lackluster start to the season and the loss of Green, Golden State may look to make additions via trade. Wojnarowski said a handful of decision-makers have already called Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. in the past few days. While it’s unclear what Golden State’s exact plans are, Wojnarowski points out that the team is likely to be open to moves as they continue to try and piece together a championship-caliber team around Stephen Curry.

Wojnarowski envisions “difficult decisions” for Dunleavy and the Warriors as they approach the deadline, with several veterans not producing to their standards.

Green is averaging 9.7 points, 5.8 assists and 5.5 rebounds in 15 games this season. The Warriors are 10-14 and currently sit at 11th in the Western Conference.

We have more on Green:

• Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said the NBA’s indefinite suspension of Green “makes sense,” according to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, and that it allows Green to reflect and change his approach. “This is about someone I believe in, someone I’ve known for a decade, someone who I love for his loyalty, his commitment, his passion, his love for his teammates, friends, his family. Trying to help that guy,” Kerr said. “Because the one who grabbed Rudy, choked Rudy, the one who took a wild flail at Jusuf, the one who punched Jordan [Poole] last year, that’s the guy who has to change and he knows that.“
• The Warriors made it clear they’re still supporting Green in the wake of the suspension. Sportsnaut’s Mark Medina explores why, writing that he believes it’s easier for the Warriors to strengthen an existing, if awkward, relationship as opposed to ending it early. Medina writes that Green is still playing at a high level and the franchise needs to make sure they’re helping him deal with whatever he’s going through, though Green needs to do better. “Championships are at stake in terms of us being a contender, a realistic contender or even just us being a good team,” Curry said. “He’s a part of that.“
• For his part, Green has accepted this suspension and apologized to Nurkic after the altercation. It isn’t the first time this season Green’s had to reflect on an on-court incident, and according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Green spoke to Curry following the incident with Gobert. According to Shelburne, Green said he lost his sense of time and place in that fight. “When I watched it back, I said, ‘Damn, I held [Gobert] much longer than I realized in that moment,’” Green said. “But the reality is, in those moments, you don’t know what time is. You don’t have a sense of time.“

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