Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob has firmly denied rumors suggesting that star forward Draymond Green was ever part of trade discussions related to the pursuit of Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo. Despite recent speculation centered around potential moves to strengthen the Warriors, Lacob emphasized that Green’s name was never offered or seriously considered in any trade negotiations.
Clarifying Draymond Green’s Role Amid Trade Speculation
The Warriors recently added Kristaps Porzingis following the February 5 trade deadline, and alongside this move, chatter surfaced about the team’s interest in acquiring Antetokounmpo. Reports from NBA insiders Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints and Anthony Slater of ESPN suggested Green could have been involved in these talks. However, Golden State’s general manager Mike Dunleavy refuted these claims, asserting that Green was never on the trading block. Supporting this, Lacob confirmed,
he was never discussed in a trade.
Reflecting on the nature of such negotiations, Lacob explained,
Mike was 100% correct what he said,
while adding that serious trade talks rarely involve casual discussions of player names without genuine engagement.
But the truth is, the way these things are, you don’t just easily banter around names unless you’re getting serious. We never really got engagement on some of the big deals to the point where you get into specific names. People can look at the roster, and they can make assumptions about who might or might not have to go if you’ve got a certain person.
Joe Lacob Affirms Draymond Green’s Value to the Warriors
As Golden State aims to make a strong playoff run, the team faces challenges with key players sidelined, including a season-ending injury to Jimmy Butler and the ongoing absence of Stephen Curry. Given Green’s significance throughout the Warriors’ championship runs, Lacob was clear that he has never been made available for trade. He stated,
he was never shopped in any way.
Lacob further emphasized Green’s central place within the franchise:
He’s a core person in our franchise. You don’t trade a Draymond Green simply or easily,
adding that any trade involving Green would only occur if the team received substantial value significantly improving the roster.
You do it if you have to, and you’re getting tremendous value, and you’re improving your team. Even Draymond has said he understands that. You have to look at these things. But his name was never specifically discussed with another team. And that’s the truth.
Looking ahead, it remains uncertain whether the Warriors will renew their pursuit of Antetokounmpo during the offseason or whether Green’s status might shift in those conversations. For now, Lacob’s comments reinforce Green’s importance as a foundational member of Golden State’s roster.
