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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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Draymond Green declined his $27.7 million player option with the Golden State Warriors on Monday morning, instantly creating cap flexibility and igniting speculation that the team could be preparing for a blockbuster pursuit of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Reports quickly linked the Warriors to a plan that would pair James, Davis, Green, and Steph Curry, forming one of the most legendary rotations in NBA history.
But speaking on "The Rich Eisen Show," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said people around the league were giving him "the side eye" and suggesting that the entire saga could end with Green re-signing with the Warriors, James re-signing with the Lakers, and Davis landing a new extension with the Wizards. In other words, this might be nothing more an a leverage play to get all three new contracts with their respective teams.
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"We just saw last week the actions of the Lakers seeing another offer out there for one of their players (Austin Reaves), and then increasing their offer. The Wizards are giving Trae Young $200 million in a contract extension. And if I'm Anthony Davis, I'm saying, 'Well, if they're going to give Trae Young a contract extension, why wouldn't they give me a contract extension?' So I'm not saying I know, but part of this could be creating leverage for AD and LeBron in both Washington and LA, and then everybody gets paid on a contract," Windhorst said.
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The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly first offered Austin Reaves a deal worth around $30 million per year. But after he started to receive outside interest, particularly from the Detroit Pistons, LA upped their offer to a deal around $46.2 million annually, with Reaves signing a four-year, $185 million max extension to ensure he remains a Laker.
Meanwhile, Washington recently agreed to a four-year, $212 million extension with Trae Young. Windhorst's point is that Davis could now point to that deal and ask why he shouldn't receive a similar long-term commitment, making outside interest from a team like the Warriors valuable leverage in negotiations.
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Multiple reports indicate Green is expected to return to Golden State on a new multi-year deal at a lower annual salary.
That leaves the Lakers and Wizards facing the possibility, whether real or perceived, of losing franchise cornerstones if negotiations drag on.
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