In recent weeks, there have been rumors of the Sacramento Kings trading for veteran Draymond Green. From the Kings' perspective, that makes a lot of sense. From Green's perspective, that makes next to no sense and he'd probably quit basketball rather than playing for Sacramento at this point.
In case you've never heard of Green, he's a podcaster who moonlights as a basketball player. He was drafted by the Warriors in 2012 and has only ever played for Golden State. Green is a four-time NBA Champion, a four-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, seven-time NBA All Defensive Team, and a DPOY.
Honestly, the man is one of the most respected defenders in the history of the NBA. Sure, he can play a little rough. Green has stomped out Domantas Sabonis, choked out Rudy Gobert, and hit Jusuf Nurkic with a spinning backfist. It got bad enough that the league had to address his shenanigans.
Given his elite defensive capabilities, it makes sense that the Kings would be interested in him. They have no team defensive identity, though Sacramento does have a few capable individual performers. Recent rumors have said that the Kings are interested in a trade. But it shouldn't happen.
The Kings would have to give up their future for Green
If Sacramento is serious about trading the for Green this season, that means having to give up a lot to get him. The Warriors are going to want players like Dylan Cardwell and Maxime Raynaud, young centers they can develop alongside the explosive Yaxel Lendeborg.
Basically, the Kings would have to trade their future for a 36 year old player nearing retirement. That move might make a little sense if Sacramento was in a win-now situation. They are nowhere near that, and adding Green to the roster this season definitely isn't going to turn them into that team.
The more likely option is waiting out Green's contract, which ends with this season, and play the situation from there. Sacramento will have more salary cap to work with, but Green isn't the right guy to spend it on. The Kings have had their eyes on Jonathan Kuminga for quite some time.
Sure, Green might be able to help build the Kings' defense and get them an actual identity. But they might be better served by hiring him as a defensive coordinator once his playing career is over. Beside, Green probably doesn't want to spend his final seasons on a basement team.
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