Draymond Green has interestingly brought up LeBron James when discussing his contract on Thursday after returning to the Golden State Warriors.
Green has been heavily linked with a move to the Los Angeles Lakers next summer, with ESPN First Take host Stephen A. Smith reporting that he believes the 32-year-old will look to join James in LA when he becomes a free agent. Green does have an option to extend his contract by a year, but is likely to decline that option to secure a long-term deal.
And that deal may not come from the Warriors, who will be looking to pay some of their younger players including Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga, whilst also needing flexibility to make future moves.
On his contract, Green said that he will not discuss a new deal during the season, in the hope of shutting reporters down as he chooses to concentrate on the upcoming season with his team. Interestingly, he referenced how James has dealt with looming free agency, which he did at the Cleveland Cavaliers twice and the Miami Heat.
Green said: "My general view is that this year I am here to win a championship. I have a contract that ranges through next year if I so choose to pick up that option - that is my view of how it'll be here. We all have a goal to win a championship.
"I told the team I don't think we'll do an extension. That doesn't mean I won't be back here, it just means I don't think we'll do an extension this year with the season about to start - so I said I am not going to talk about it all year, we have a championship to win.
"I am not one to let conversations about my future be discussed, I don't like to let contract drama linger - especially when it's involving me.
"We have seen LeBron James have contract situations, we have seen Steph Curry have contract situations and they handle it - you can't say that for everyone. If you're going to let it linger then you have to deal with that every single day and all it brings."
The former Michigan State star has spent his 10-year career with the Warriors, winning four NBA championships whilst being an integral piece of their roster alongside Curry and Klay Thompson.
