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Jeff Teague explains Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green problem, need to sign one star to ‘make a push’

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aikansh Chaudhary | Last updated Aug 31, 2025 9:00 AM ET

The Golden State Warriors have often relied on their small-ball lineup to dominate in the NBA.

The small-ball lineup eradicates the need for a traditional center. Instead, a forward fulfills the role of a center.

This lineup sacrifices speed and post defense in favor of speed, agility, and better spacing on the floor. For the Golden State Warriors, head coach Steve Kerr has utilized Draymond Green in this role.

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Jeff Teague says it’s time to say goodbye to Draymond Green in a small-ball lineup

Even during the 2024-25 season, Green played at center several times during the campaign. Unfortunately, until the arrival of Jimmy Butler, the Warriors’ strategy was failing consistently.

Keeping that in mind, former NBA player Jeff Teague thinks it’s time for the Warriors to remove Green from this role and utilize him in his natural position, i.e., power forward.

“I think they’ve got to get a big, with that small ball lineup. I’m a fan of Draymond, but I just don’t think that’s going to hold up anymore,” Teague said on the Club 520 podcast.

He can’t guard [Nikola] Jokic and all them dudes for a long period of time. There’s too many people out West. But I just don’t think that can hold up anymore,” Teague added.

For context, Green allowed Nikola Jokic to average 32.5 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 12.5 assists per game during their 2024-25 NBA season matchups.

Trading for Nikola Vucevic is step one in the right direction for Golden State Warriors, says Jeff Teague

Teague wasn’t done there, as he also provided a solution for the Dubs. He believes the Warriors should trade for the Chicago Bulls’ Nikola Vucevic.

“If they got a Vucevic or somebody, then I could, like, dang, they might make a push. Even though Vucevic is not a good defender or anything, he’s a capable scorer.”

“But then they got, like, a backup big that could guard a little bit,” Teague concluded.

In simple terms, Teague wants Vucevic on the Warriors to improve their skill on the offensive end of the floor. Thus, it could allow Green to be better on the defensive end.

Despite that, the final step would be to add a backup center. It makes sense, especially since the departure of Kevon Looney in the offseason.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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