After solving the offseason conflict with Jonathan Kuminga regarding his next contract, the Golden State Warriors still have offseason business to conduct. They signed Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II to round out the roster.
The only thing left to settle is the starting lineup. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler are locks to start. Behind that, options include Horford, Kuminga, Buddy Hield, Brandin Podziemski, or Moses Moody, who is currently injured.
Green, as he has for his entire career, will hop between power forward and center. According to Green, Steve Kerr must tread carefully when building out the lineups.
Draymond Green Doesn’t Care About Lineup
In the modern NBA, players don’t want to suit up as the center. The center often scores less and plays a more physical role, risking injury.
Green has never really cared about filling up the stat sheet, so he thinks he will thrive this season no matter where Kerr puts him.
“If I got to play the five, I’m going to ask for a trade,” Green joked on October 19th.
Josh Hart made similar remarks when asked if he would come off the bench. Winning players on good teams have bigger fish to fry than the number of minutes they get.
“Whatever helps this team, whatever puts us in the best position to win, that’s what I’m going to do,” Green added. “Playing the five isn’t always about the size. It’s about the size of the heart, and I think my heart is as big, if not bigger than anyone’s in this league, so I always trust in that. I think my brain helps get me by quite a bit. I can outthink some guys, you know, so I just use the tools that I have. But I’m not putting huge emphasis on whether I’m playing the four or the five.”
Draymond Green Expected to Play Power Forward
Green made it clear that he doesn’t care where he plays, although the Warriors would thrive with a larger center next to him. Horford seems to be the perfect center.
He can space the floor on offense and draw attention away from Butler and Curry. On defense, he can protect the rim and allow Green to roam, causing chaos all over the floor.
Warriors’ Lineup Question Prompts Trade Joke From Draymond Green