New York Post
· collected 2026-09-15 · by Thomas L. Murray
Marcus Thompson II, a long-time beat writer for The Athletic, suggests that Golden State Warriors might consider trading Draymond Green during this season's trade deadline if the team starts poorly. With key players like Curry, Green, and Butler on expiring contracts totaling around $100 million, the Warriors face significant choices about whether to rebuild or continue with their current roster. Thompson also notes that while Green’s defensive impact remains strong, his high salary of $27.7 million could complicate any trade negotiations.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 12081 · logged 2026-09-15
The 2026-27 NBA season could determine whether the Golden State Warriors extend their aging foundation or finally tear it down.
uncertain
Warriors → determine → it
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler are all playing on expiring contracts, giving Golden State an opportunity to disband its veteran core if the season begins poorly.
asserted
season → play → core
Marcus Thompson II, who has covered the Warriors for more than a decade as a beat writer and columnist for The Athletic, raised the possibility of Green being traded during an appearance on “The Kevin O’Connor Show.”
“I think this might be the time,” Thompson said.
uncertain
Thompson → cover → Show
“Right now, we’re gonna figure out what happens next.
asserted
what → go → ?
I think by the trade deadline, we’ll know.
asserted
we → think → deadline
This is gonna be tough, and we could really, fully be saying goodbye.
uncertain
we → go → goodbye
Draymond could be traded at the trade deadline.”
uncertain
Draymond → trade → deadline
Thompson could also envision Butler being moved, but he did not believe the Warriors would consider dealing Curry, whom he described as a franchise “lifer.”
uncertain
he → envision → lifer
Moving Green would not be simple.
asserted
Moving → move → Green
He would be an expensive rental earning $27.7 million and likely would not command the return he once did, despite remaining one of the NBA’s most impactful defensive players.
asserted
he → earn → players
A contender looking to upgrade its defense could still pursue Green without surrendering a major portion of its future.
uncertain
contender → look → future
Butler presents a different complication.
asserted
Butler → present → complication
He turned 37 on Monday and is recovering from the torn ACL he suffered last season.
asserted
he → turn → ACL
The veteran forward is not expected to return until late January or early February.
asserted
forward → expect → January
Golden State acquired Butler from the Miami Heat at the 2025 trade deadline.
asserted
State → acquire → deadline
The move has not produced the intended results, with Butler appearing in only 68 games for the Warriors over parts of two seasons.
asserted
Butler → produce → seasons
Thompson noted that Golden State has approximately $100 million in expiring contracts, much of it attached to the core of its roster.
asserted
State → note → roster
That flexibility would allow the front office to make a dramatic pivot if it determines the current group can no longer contend.
asserted
group → allow → pivot
“That’s the core players,” Thompson said.
asserted
Thompson → ’ → ?
“Klay’s already gone.
asserted
Klay → go → ?
If Draymond leaves, there’s a sense you could feel like they just might start this thing completely over.”
uncertain
they → leave → thing
Resetting during the final years of Curry’s career would be seismic, but the Warriors are already attempting to build their next generation.
asserted
Warriors → reset → generation
Coach Steve Kerr recently praised the influx of young talent on Golden State’s roster, particularly No. 11 overall pick Yaxel Lendeborg.
asserted
Kerr → praise → roster
If the Warriors stumble, the trade deadline could become more than an opportunity to adjust the roster.
uncertain
deadline → stumble → roster
It could mark the end of their championship foundation.
uncertain
It → mark → foundation
The Aporia
