A wild Lakers theory has been floated as the fallout from Draymond Green’s altercation with teammate Jordan Poole continues.
Green fronted the media late last week to apologise and confirm he would be taking a pause from the team after punching Poole in a heated exchange between the pair at training.
The 32-year-old is under contract for this upcoming season and has a player option for the 2023-24 campaign but will become an unrestricted free agent should that not be picked up.
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There is also the possibility Green could be moved on should the situation with Poole become too toxic and according to Locked On Warriors’ Cyrus Saatsaz, the drama is far from over.
“I’ve had sources tell me that behind the scenes, Jordan Poole has not forgiven Draymond,” he said.
“They haven’t spoken. He’s not happy — I don’t know how you could be — It’s a horrible look: The image of it is awful, and it’s borderline emasculating.”
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Should the situation become untenable, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith seems to believe the Lakers could be a possible destination for Green next season.
“Now, he wanna be a Laker,” Smith said on ‘First Take’.
“He ain’t gonna tell anybody that, but don’t think I don’t know. He’d prefer to be a Laker if he gotta leave Golden State.
“[Andrew] Wiggins and Poole are a priority… Draymond Green is expecting this to be his last year in Golden State.”
It is not the first time this has come up, with Smith claiming on ‘NBA Countdown’ last week that the veteran forward would “not be averse” to joining the Lakers.
“Opt out, take a two-year deal,” Smith said.
“Go to the Lakers and join LeBron. He wouldn’t be averse to that. Trust me. Trust me.”
Smith went on to add that Green’s future at the franchise is not just on shaky ground because of the Poole incident, pointing towards the 32-year-old’s recent production on the court.
“Over the last four years, Draymond Green has averaged less than double digits in points and rebounds and he shot less than 30 percent from 3-point range,” Smith said.
“He’s 32, he’s going to be 33 years of age in March and the Golden State Warriors are loaded, so you know what this is about.”
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There were suggestions from numerous Golden State beat writers last week that Green would now need to earn back the trust of not just Poole but the entire playing group.
Kevon Looney said as much to reporters on Monday, declaring Green has “got some work to do to get that trust back”.
“But I think he’s willing to do it,” Looney added.
“We had a lot of things happen here in my time but a lot of things usually get to stay in-house and we get to handle most of the time like that. It’s a little different with it being out in public and all the outside commotion weighing in.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr, meanwhile, was full of praise for the way Poole had responded.
“There’s a reason he’s in this position, about to sign a big extension hopefully. He’s tough,” Kerr said.
“Mentally tough and physically tough.”
