Warriors Weigh $27.7 Million Draymond Green Deals After Missing LeBron James

Q: What mystery superstar are the Warriors secretly targeting after Green sacrificed his long-term security for cap flexibility?

The clearest answer is LeBron James was the superstar Golden State was targeting, not an unidentified secret name. The reporting around Green’s opt-out is unusually consistent: he declined his $27.6 million player option specifically to give the Warriors added flexibility to chase James, and multiple outlets described that pursuit as the franchise’s main offseason goal. Green also reportedly helped recruit James. That push is now effectively over, because James chose the Philadelphia 76ers. Beyond LeBron, the searched material shows Golden State has also explored or monitored other star-level scenarios, but they were more contingent and less concrete. Anthony Davis has been discussed as a possible trade target in cap-and-trade constructions tied to a broader Warriors reshuffle. Giannis Antetokounmpo appeared in past trade-deadline conversations involving Green, but those talks were not revived this summer. Kristaps Porziņģis, Bradley Beal and DeMar DeRozan have also surfaced in connection with roster upgrades, though they do not fit the “mystery superstar” framing as strongly as James. So the evidence points to this: Green did not sacrifice long-term security for a hidden target. He took a one-year structure to help Golden State preserve flexibility for a very public swing at LeBron. With James off the board, the Warriors now appear to be pivoting to secondary options and keeping Green’s contract movable if another star opportunity emerges.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 28

$27.7 million is the benchmark after Draymond Green declined his player option, leaving Golden State to craft new offers to keep him.
The Warriors are discussing multiple structures, including a one-year deal near that figure or a multi-year contract with a lower annual salary for the 36-year-old.
A new contract could also include a full no-trade clause — a rare provision Green qualifies for after eight NBA seasons and four straight years with the same team.
The negotiations intensified after Golden State missed on LeBron James, who is set to play for the Philadelphia 76ers.