Steve Kerr: Draymond Green will be on minutes restriction upon return

The Warriors are set to get Draymond Green back Monday, but the longtime defensive anchor won't be at full strength right away.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr said following Saturday's 122-109 win over Milwaukee that Green will be on a minutes restriction when he returns, according to Kendra Andrews of ESPN. Andrews also reports that Kerr doesn't know exactly how limited Green will be upon return.

Green has officially been out since Jan. 9, but really it's been since Jan. 5, as he played just a few ceremonial seconds in Klay Thompson's return before checking out for the night. His injury wasn't originally believed to be more than a minor calf issue, but the team discovered not long after that the injury stems from a disc issue in his lower back.

On March 4, Andrews reported in a story on ESPN.com that there was still no timetable for Green's return. But just three days later, Green said on his podcast that he was targeting a return on March 14 , and the team confirmed this date shortly after.

Once Green is back up to full speed, he'll join a Warriors team that is currently tied for second place in the Western Conference, despite slowing some as of late. Green's defensive ability and passing proficiency will give the team a boost as it competes with the Grizzlies for the two spot and looks to gain ground on the top-seeded Suns.

Before the injury, Green was averaging 7.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game. The Warriors were 29-8 before his injury and now sit at 46-22.