‘The writing’s on the wall’: Draymond Green believes he’s on his way OUT of Golden State

Draymond Green believes that his time as a member of the Golden State Warriors is coming to an end after this season.

With ownership looking to reduce payroll, and Green currently the fourth-oldest player on the team, the forward believes he won’t return to San Francisco for next season.

Speaking with Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks, Green says he’s accepted that he’ll probably move on, even though he doesn’t want to leave Golden State.

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green thinks his time in the Bay will be over soon

Green (23) told Taylor Rooks that he does not want to leave Golden State but that it can happen

Frankly, the writing is on the wall. I understand the business. We tend to get into this that someone owes us something for what we have achieved.

‘You’d be an idiot to walk around feeling like this. I feel like you’re setting yourself up for failure. You are preparing for heartbreak. You’re setting yourself up for disappointment,” Green said.

He went on to say, ‘Instead of saying, “No, let me learn this business.” If you don’t get to know the business, then you may be surprised and say, “Oh man, everything I’ve ever done I thought was going to be there forever.” I would love to be [with the Warriors forever].

‘[But] I understand the luxury tax. I understand that you have these young people and contracts and you have to pay them.

‘I understand all those things. And so, just for me, that’s what I mean by the writing on the wall.

Green says he “would love to be” with the Warriors forever, but “understands the luxury tax”

Warriors majority owner Joe Lacob previously said he wants to cut payroll

Green currently has a one-year player option worth $27.6 million, which will keep him in the Bay Area if the four-time NBA champion opts to participate.

However, the free agency market could give him a bigger and better deal with a different team, or it could force him to accept a lower salary if he stays with the Warriors.

Warriors owner Joe Lacob has been outspoken that he doesn’t want to hit a payroll of more than $400 million, which would be more than enough to trigger the league’s luxury tax threshold.

‘[That kind of payroll is] It’s not possible without losing a lot of money on the bottom line, let’s put it that way,” Lacob told The Athletic.

‘I said that [a $400 million payroll is not possible]and it is, from a business perspective, an almost crazy thing to consider.

“But I think we’ll have to wait and see, because the truth is that winning matters, and I want to win another championship.” We want to win another championship this year, and I’ll probably say so at the end of this year as well.

‘Let’s see how this season goes. Every week, every month, every game. Anything can happen.’

But Lacob’s desire for a fifth title with this group could lead him to stick with the likes of Green.