[Amick] Draymond Green and his camp are aware there is a real chance he could be traded to Milwaukee in a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Should he be traded, Green could force his way to another team or head to free agency this offseason
If the Warriors’ best offer, as many suspect, is four first-round picks and a first-round swap alongside Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, then how can Horst turn to Bucks fans and sell a story of survival in the post-Antetokounmpo era? Ditto for the packages that are most often discussed with the Heat, Knicks and Timberwolves.
On the flip side, the fact that all of these teams are choosing to stay in the hunt — and yes, per a team source, that still includes the Knicks — is revealing in its own right. There’s an internal price that is sometimes paid to be part of this sort of high-profile process.
As great as Antetokounmpo is, the harsh reality is that every player who gets tied to trade proposals as a result of his availability is likely displeased to be part of that discussion. It’s one thing to be a role player who might be included in this kind of deal, but landing a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber — and cost — means that foundational players are almost assuredly, and unexpectedly, sent packing.
**To that point, league sources say Green and his camp are well aware that the prospect of him being sent to Milwaukee is very real. As our Nick Friedell reported on Monday, Jimmy Butler has been given strong indications that the Warriors plan to “stick by him as he begins a year-long rehab” from his recently torn ACL. And if Butler isn’t in the proposed deal — based on the economics and league rules — then Green is.**
**What’s more, league sources say the Bucks are known to be prioritizing impact players in talks and, as such, would prefer a healthy player like Green as opposed to one in Butler who likely won’t return until midway through next season. As for Green, the chance remains — if the Warriors found a way to pull this off — that he might push his way to another team or, perhaps, go the free agency route this summer (he has a player option for $27.6 million for next season).**