Do the Golden State Warriors have Draymond Green problem?

Do the Golden State Warriors have a Draymond Green problem? 

With just 10 days remaining before the start of the 2022-23 NBA regular season, it’s not all rainbows and butterflies for the defending champion Golden State Warriors. In fact, they may have a problem on their hands that I’m not sure how they’ll handle it. And smack at the center of it is Draymond Green.

A few days ago, it was reported that there was a physical altercation at Warriors practice between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole. It was described as “a chest-to-chest interaction” and that both “needed to be separated swiftly.”

And the video, which was released Friday morning, doesn’t give it any better context. In fact, you can make the argument that the video makes things much worse than originally reported. And the fact that the Warriors are going to take care of it in-house (Draymond won’t miss games) seems problematic and sends perhaps the wrong message. But I guess that’s why the Warriors’ front office gets paid the big bucks and why I’m here writing behind a computer screen.

What do I know?

What if winning doesn’t cure all for Draymond Green?

Heading into the start of the season, this is far from what the Warriors need in their lives. Throw in the fact that these are two players that are seeking big contract extensions from the Warriors and the optics look even worse.

An extension for Poole may be on the horizon, but that may not end up being the case for Draymond. I’m not saying that is the reason there was a “scuffle” between the two, but that doesn’t help matters from an outside perspective.

Maybe this all gets settled once the Warriors start winning games, but what if it doesn’t? Draymond clearly wants an extension and there’s a good chance that they’re going to let him play out the season before he gets one – if, in fact, he gets one from the Warriors.

And from everything we know about Draymond, who was quickly become one of the most outspoken players in the league, I’m not sure that’s a great idea.

But, again, what do I know?

The Warriors are destined for great things this season. They have one of the most talented rosters in the league and will be heavy favorites to repeat as champions. But the mismanagement of Draymond’s immediate future could have a colossal impact on this season.

And perhaps this “innocent” dust-up between Draymond and Poole may end up just being the first domino to fall. Maybe another one doesn’t fall for the rest of the season. Maybe it doesn’t.

But what if one does? The Warriors may have a Draymond-sized problem on their hands. But by the time they realize it, it’ll be too late.