Mike Dunleavy Jr. says Warriors ‘really want’ Draymond Green back

SAN FRANCISCO — Mike Dunleavy Jr. is thrown into the fire as he takes on a new role as general manager.

The Golden State Warriors are in a crucial offseason, which has already seen CEO Bob Myers depart and Draymond Green declined his player option.

The NBA draft is four days away. Free agency follows close behind.

But at the top of Dunleavy’s to-do list this summer is Green, who declined his $27.6 million player option Monday morning and will enter unrestricted free agency, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul said. to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

“We really want Draymond back,” Dunleavy said Monday at his inaugural press conference. “What he means in terms of this organization and this team, winning at the highest level, we feel like we have to have him.”

Green was expected to drop out; Now he can talk to the Warriors and deal with sign-and-trades and free agency.

“We will continue to speak to Golden State and review all options,” Paul told ESPN.

After the Warriors were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers, Green told Andscape’s Marc Spears that Myers’ decision – whether to return or leave as president and general manager – would have some weight in his contract decision. However, it would not be the only determining factor.

Green recognized the unique relationship Myers had with player and head coach Steve Kerr, and how very few league managers have that trait. Dunleavy will now attempt to seize power.

“Did I interview other people? No not true. We didn’t go outside,” Warriors owner and CEO Joe Lacob said of Dunleavy’s hiring. “We believe in continuity. We believe we have a really well-oiled machine, a well-functioning organization. Mike gets along really well with everyone involved in it.”

When it comes to rostering or rebuilding, Dunleavy says there aren’t many decisions to make, but “things to consider.”

In addition to finding a new deal for Green, it’s also about adding some “connectivity.”

“The rest of the roster is a group that probably needs to be better at playing together and connecting, so we’re going to try to work that out for this offseason,” Dunleavy said. “By the way, this not only applies to the outside, but also internally through the cooperation and all those things.”

He continued, “Look at the championship team with the nuggets. These guys were chosen together.” [In] 2022, that’s how we were. We can get back to that feeling, that point of view, and I think given our talent, that will give us a chance to fight for a title.”

Much of the split during the Warriors’ final season stemmed from Green and Jordan Poole’s altercation at training camp, which Kerr described at the time as the franchise’s biggest crisis of his tenure and later said left a shadow on the season .

Green admitted the altercation has affected his ability to be the vocal and sometimes aggressive leader that has energized Golden State in the past. He said he felt this was preventing the team from performing at their best.

But as the Warriors struggle to find a new contract for Green, there is a strong belief that all parties will be able to move forward and have both Green and Poole on the team next season.

“We intend to [Poole] at least four more years,” Dunleavy said.

If the Warriors are actually trying to meet their needs from the outside, their first attempt at recruiting will be in Thursday’s draft.

The question is whether the Warriors would want to sign another young player while they’re still trying to figure out the development plans of Poole, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, as well as 2022 draft picks Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Ryan Rollins.

But Dunleavy said the team will take stock after the draft. After that, the Warriors will look for free agency to reshape the roster.

In addition to Green, Donte DiVincenzo has a $4.7 million player option that he must accept or decline by June 28th. JaMychal Green and Andre Iguodala are both unrestricted free agents, although Iguodala said last season would be his last.

Anthony Lamb and two-wayers Ty Jerome and Lester Quinones are restricted free agents.

“I think there’s a lot that can be done with all the challenges that are coming our way, whether it’s an aging roster, the new CBA with some restrictions there, or anything else that can be addressed,” Dunleavy said. “We’re aware of all these things, but we also feel like we’re in a great place because we have a competitive owner who’s willing to spend money, a group that’s involved, has good synergies, good Has processes and is good and solid.” Decision making. We are confident that we can handle it.”