Draymond Green Shutdown Warriors 2024 Trade That Would’ve Landed Star

According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Green effectively blocked a potential blockbuster trade for Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen during the 2024 offseason, telling team executives to pump the brakes on what could have been a franchise-altering move.

Draymond Green Plays Into Front Office Role

The four-time champion didn’t mince words when addressing Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy and owner Joe Lacob about the proposed deal. Green specifically advised against green-lighting the trade because Utah was demanding “all the draft picks and young players” in return for their All-Star forward.

Draymond Green’s assessment carried weight within the organization, effectively shutting down negotiations for a player who averaged 23.2 points per game the previous season.”I’m a big fan of Markkanen’s game,” Draymond Green explained. “But I think if you want to do something so huge, you’d better be certain that this is the move. You usually don’t win those things against Danny Ainge. I look at history.”

Green’s reference to Ainge’s track record speaks volumes. The Jazz executive has a reputation for extracting maximum value in trades, from flecing the Brooklyn Nets in the early 2010s to turning Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert into substantial asset hauls in 2022.

The Cost Would Have Been Steep

Reports from Shams Charania revealed Utah’s asking price: Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, plus multiple draft picks. That package would have gutted Golden State’s young core and future flexibility.

Consider what the Warriors would have lost. Kuminga was coming off a 16.1 points per game season. Podziemski finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting. Moody had established himself as a rotation player, averaging 8.1 points per game.

Looking back, Draymond Green’s instincts appear spot-on. Both Kuminga and Podziemski started in the Warriors’ season opener against Los Angeles, with Moody expected to compete for his starting spot once healthy.

Warriors Found A Better Alternative

Instead of mortgaging their future, the Warriors waited and struck gold at the trade deadline by acquiring Jimmy Butler from Miami. The deal cost them essentially Andrew Wiggins and the 20th overall pick – a fraction of Utah’s demands.

Butler’s impact was immediate. After his arrival, Golden State went 23-8 to close the regular season and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Butler dropped 31 points in the season opener, going a perfect 16-for-16 from the free-throw line. The contrast is striking. Rather than giving up three promising young players and multiple picks for Markkanen, the Warriors kept their core intact while adding a proven playoff performer in Butler.

Green’s Leadership Pays Dividends

This episode underscores Draymond Green’s evolution from fiery competitor to organizational sage. His influence extends beyond the court, where he’s anchored four championship teams since 2014. Now he’s helping shape roster construction with the same intensity he brings to defense.

The Warriors’ patience, partly driven by Green’s counsel, allowed them to maintain roster depth while adding a legitimate second star. Markkanen, meanwhile, signed a new contract extension with Utah that makes him harder to trade and would have put Golden State in a difficult financial position.

Draymond Green’s bet against trading for Markkanen reflects his understanding of championship construction. Sometimes the best move is the one you don’t make, especially when dealing with a savvy executive like Ainge. As the Golden State begins another championship pursuit, Green’s influence behind the scenes may prove just as valuable as his contributions between the lines.