Draymond Green’s $27.6 million player option could change the Golden State Warriors’ summer plans in one stroke: it would give them another major salary to use in trade matching and make it easier to keep Jimmy Butler. Under the current structure, Butler is the only fully contracted Warrior making more than $12.5 million, which leaves Golden State thin on large deals if it wants to chase another star without moving him.
That is why the question around Green’s decision matters now. Golden State was already trying to make a blockbuster move for Giannis Antetokounmpo before the February mid-season deadline, and Butler had just suffered a torn ACL and was expected to be out for nearly 12 months. In that setting, reports pointed to Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga as the matching salary in an Antetokounmpo deal, a sign that the Warriors were willing to build around whatever contract pieces they could assemble.
The same math still governs the summer. If Green opts in, Golden State would have another big contract to attach to draft assets, which gives it more room to pursue a trade without making Butler the first name out the door. That matters because the Warriors would prefer to keep Butler over Green, even if Butler is the most movable high-salary player on the roster under the current setup.
But the choice is not clean. If Golden State wants Kawhi Leonard, Antetokounmpo or any other big-name player making over $40 million, Butler would have to be included unless Green’s option is on the books and the team can build from there. In other words, the player the Warriors most want to hold onto is also the one they may need to move if Green stays out. That is the friction inside the plan: the same salary structure that makes Butler attractive to keep can also make him the piece that unlocks the biggest deal.
Trey Murphy III’s salary is another reminder of how tight the margin is, because he makes right on what Green will make next season. If Green declines the option, Golden State loses the easiest path to another large matching number and the pressure on Butler rises. If he accepts it, the Warriors gain breathing room and a better chance to explore a major move while leaving Butler in place. The next turn in the story is Green’s decision, and it will tell the Warriors whether they can chase a star without putting Butler on the table first.
