Draymond Green's 'non-relationship' with young Warriors player is a problem

Monte Poole reported that the Warriors are concerned that Green, ostensibly one of the team leaders, has no relationship with prospect Jonathan Kuminga. Golden State drafted Kuminga with the No. 7 pick in 2021, and he's shown flashes of star potential in his first two seasons. But after starting 16 games and averaging nearly 21 minutes during the regular season, Kuminga fell out of the playoff rotation.

Green acknowledged his own failings with Kuminga on Paul George's podcast.

 "I don't know him, yet I'm trying to lead him," Green told George. "That's something [Michigan State coach] Tom Izzo taught me as a freshman. 'Draymond, how can you lead someone if you don't know them?'"

The relationship with Green and the lack of playoff action led to speculation that Kuminga would request a trade. That hasn't happened yet, nor have the Warriors shopped him. But Poole (no relation to Jordan) says that Green's actions have made it a hostile place for young players.

Green wasn't suspended after punching Jordan Poole, and this summer, the Warriors also sent away both of their 2022 draft picks, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Ryan Rollins.

Perhaps the presence of Chris Paul will help, especially if he's setting up Kuminga while playing with the second unit. But Green needs to make an effort to reach out to his young teammates because the Warriors have four key players over the age of 33. They're going to need the young legs of Kuminga and Moses Moody to survive the season.

Could Green change and develop a relationship, even after he "punctured the culture" last year? That remains to be seen, but the Warriors might settle for him not punching anyone.