In the inaugural episode of the Draymond Green Show, Draymond Green provides a candid, opinion‑driven rundown of the NBA free‑agency landscape. He opens by lamenting the Clippers’ handling of Paul George’s potential move to the Golden State Warriors, arguing that the Clippers refused a sign‑and‑trade that would have netted them assets, ultimately losing George to the Philadelphia 76ers for nothing. Green then expands the discussion to franchise loyalty, contrasting teams he views as loyal (Warriors, Spurs, Lakers, Dallas) with those that are not, and pushes back against the narrative that players are disloyal. He expresses personal disappointment over Chris Paul’s departure from the Warriors, praising Paul’s veteran mentorship and his upcoming role with the San Antonio Spurs alongside Victor Wembanyama. Green highlights several notable contracts: the rise of former G‑League player Jaden Hardenstein to a three‑year, $87 million deal with OKC, the Magic’s five‑year, $66 million contract for former champion KCP, and the Warriors’ recent signings of Kyle Anderson and D’Anthony Melton. He observes a trend toward longer, five‑year deals driven by upcoming TV‑money increases, noting how these contracts can lock in young players before salaries inflate. Throughout, Green mixes analysis with personal sentiment, expressing sadness over recent player movements while remaining optimistic about the future. The segment ends with a brief DraftKings Sportsbook advertisement.
Chapters
Welcome to the brand new Draymond Green Show YouTube channel. Hit subscribe so you don't miss out on any of our content. In other news, as we must keep this podcast rolling, Paul George, I mean, there were other free agency moves and Paul George is the biggest of the summer and he is planning to sign a 4-year deal with the 76ers. Also a little salty about that because As you all know, Paul George was gonna come to the Warriors and we wanted Paul George to come to the Warriors. And you know, we always talk about these organizations, what they do for their players and whatnot. And for us to get Paul George, it would have taken a sign and trade. And the Clippers didn't really wanna play ball, didn't really wanna help him get to where he wanted to go. And so in turn, they get nothing back. And you know, whereas you could have gotten something back for Paul George walking, they get absolutely nothing back. So these organizations don't always be willing to play ball. And I don't think the Clippers were really willing to play ball for Paul George to get to the Warriors. I kinda understand it. I suppose you don't want him in the same division as you. 'cause you may know how that looks if he comes with us. So that didn't quite pan out for us, which would have been nice. Would have been really nice. But yeah, so they'll lose Paul George for nothing. And that also sucked. Because I think what Paul George could have done If he did come to the Dubs, would've been amazing. But nonetheless, not gonna cry over spilled milk. But when you talk about these organizations and you all talk about players like, oh, this guy ain't loyal to this organization, like I never want to hear that again. Because Paul George went there and when he went there, they had plans of competing for a championship. It didn't ever really work out. Quite frankly, a lot of that being due to their injuries and not being healthy, never really having an honest opportunity to compete for a championship. But nonetheless, what did Paul George do while he was at the Clippers? Maybe 4 All-Star appearances, I think, in his time with the Clippers, which quite frankly is pretty up there when you look at the level of achievement that Clippers players have had over the years. You know, you had CP who had a great tenure there. You had Blake Griffin who had a great tenure there. But Paul George's tenure there, as far as all NBAs and all-stars, is not too far off for what the best Clippers of all time had. And to not be willing to like, play ball on the sign and trade where he want to go for, I mean, it is what it is, one of the best players in your organization history. I just don't really wanna hear people saying like, "Oh, that guy wasn't loyal." Or like, "KD left this team," or such and such left that team. Like they not loyal. Like, nah, most of these organizations ain't loyal. The Warriors have shown loyalty. For sure. Dallas has actually shown loyalty when you think about Dirk's ride and like even J.J. Barea going, coming back, going, coming back. Devin Harris going, coming back. Like when you, Steph Curry going, like they've proven to be a loyal franchise. The Lakers has proven to be a loyal franchise. However, there aren't many. There aren't many out there. So. San Antonio Spurs is proving to be a loyal franchise. But like, I just named 4 outta 30. Like, so when everybody go on Twitter like, "Oh, this guy ain't that," I'm like, "Stop it." This is not a loyal business because you have players sometimes that wanna do what they think is best for them and teams aren't really willing to play ball. And when you'll take nothing as opposed to something, you don't wanna talk loyalty, people. So. Yeah. Should probably be careful with all of that talk. Another one that I am very sad about is CP. I know it was been very documented on like how we hated each other. And I am very sad to know that he's leaving this team because in my head I'm like, man, C gonna end up finishing career here and that'd be dope. Like— Yeah. Again, this is the part of the business that suck. Like one year we're seeing him, like, man, I really love this dude. Like he incredible, one of the best teammates I've ever had. And then he gone. And that is the weird part about this business, man. But that made me really sad. So between like in a day of finding out between like Klay and then CP, like it's been a, I've been sad these last few days. Yeah. Trying to process my thoughts. But I'm really sad about that. Nonetheless, CP, Pop, still a genius. Pairing CP with Wimby to teach that young fella the way. CP, one of the greatest vets I've ever been around. And I just spent a year around him as a vet myself. And he was a vet to me. And so that's gonna be great for Wimby. And the young fella Castle, 'cause see, CP gonna teach the young fella Castle all the things that he need to know about the point guard position. And he also gonna tell him what he not very good at and what he need to learn in a very elegant way, in a very constructive way. But he gonna tell that kid what he good at and what he not good at and what he need to learn and how he need to see things. And that is a genius move by the Spurs, man. Wow, that's a genius move. And then for CP, like, you get the opportunity also to, in what, year 20, I think this is about to be for CP? Opportunity to go lead the next young face star in the NBA. That's a great opportunity too. He get a chance to, in a sense, kind of go help mold him. And like, what an honor. Because you only get that if you've been as great as CP has and as respected as CP is. That's the only way you get that opportunity. CP is a very strong personality, always has been, super strong personality. For them to feel comfortable bringing you in there knowing how strong that personality is, they feel good about what you're gonna bring to that kid. That's special. That's extremely special. So I'm happy for C, 'cause that's a great opportunity to go help mold that young fella. Who knows where it can go? 'Cause young fella's special. Wimby is special. So who knows where it goes? But man, that's great. But I'm sad to see C leave. Yeah. Nonetheless, Hardenstein, who was in the G League a few years ago, 3 years, $87 million because he kept his head down, kept working, was great at what he's great at, which is being physical, tough, hard nose. And then he's added to his game, got a little floater now, you know, on the offensive end, make great passes outta the pocket when he get the ball in the pocket, make great reads. Got an opportunity, I think on a minimum contract, maybe even non-guaranteed. And now look at him, 3 years, $87 million. I love to see those type of stories 'cause I'm a product of something like that. And so congrats to Hardenstein. That's a big move for OKC. They traded for Caruso, they got Hardenstein. OKC not playing. They think they got a window and they going for it right now. And I always respect teams that make it clear we going for it. Yeah. And I think Hardenstein is a big addition for that. The Young Magic is going for 3 years, $66 million for KCP, 2-time NBA champion. I think that's huge for the Magic. Huge. And I think, you know, KCP's a great pro. And when teams start swinging for guys like KCP, that mean we serious. We wanna make a run. So, you know, I was on the— Draymond Green. Shop a few years ago and I was talking about going to play the Magic. That's a different Magic now. And I can respect that they're making a sign, not one year, $22 million for KCP, you know, how teams do. I go, I'm gonna bring this guy in for one year because I don't want to talk. No, what they're saying right now is we think we got a window and we need to fill some guys in around our young stars. And that's what they doing. So they starting to go for it. And I respect that. I saw a couple deals that were like good deals for the guys, but team taking advantage of their situation. Wiggins, young Wiggins, Aaron Wiggins from OKC. The young fella from the Bulls, Patrick Williams. A lot of these, so I don't know if y'all paid attention, but there's been an uptick of 5-year deals this summer, an uptick of those. And I wonder why. It's interesting, 'cause new TV money about to kick in and those contracts gonna go up and you get some of these guys locked in on these 5-year contracts and you can take advantage of those guys when that TV money go up. If you paying a guy $18 million now, that may not even be the mid-level when this new TV money kick in. We don't know. And so I thought that's been interesting in watching a couple of these teams go through these, go with these 5-year deals on these guys. Couple of these young players, you know, if you Tyrese Maxey and you getting the max, Maxey with the max, you know what I'm saying? Then you sign that max, you know? But a couple of these deals I've been looking at, I'm always happy for these young guys. To see them get their money because it's life-changing and I know the feeling. And I would never, I would never make a guy feel bad about getting paid. You get your money. But that was just something that I saw that I thought was interesting. And I just hope that those guys are being made aware of all of the things. When you first getting your bag, you can't really mess around with it. You gotta take your money.— but I just hope someone is teaching all these young guys these things. Um, laying the options out for them and then saying, hey, these are the options, this is what you should do, and here's why I think you should do this, but this is what you could do. See, most people will tell you, this is what you should do, and here's why I think you should, but they don't tell you what you could do. And I just hope those young fellas are being told what they could do. Uh, also, the Clippers re-signed James Harden, 2 years, $70 million. And Russell Westbrook opted in and I saw they wanted to trade him, which was shocking to me because I'm like, dang, Russ opted in before and then they gonna try to trade Russ? Like, is that Russ? I don't, that was a little weird to me. D'Lo opted in. Valanciunas going to Washington, 3 years, $30 million. It's an interesting free agency. But my overall feeling with this free agency, by the way, the Dubs just signed Kyle Anderson, 3 years, $27 million, which I'm excited about. 'Cause if you watch the playoffs, you know I'm big on Kyle Anderson. Kyle Anderson is a guy that you bring in and he just figures it out and help you win. So I like that sign. And Dubs also bringing in D'Anthony Melton, 1 year, $12 million. Almost $13 million. Um, it's an interesting free agency. I like those signings, but overall, I'm leaving this free agency. I'm sad. Peace.
You know the beautiful thing about being a sports fan? There's only like 2 days the whole year without a game. 2. With so much happening and so much action, that makes just about every day game day at DraftKings Sportsbook. It's super easy for first-timers to get started. Try betting on something simple like picking a team to win. Go to the DraftKings Sportsbook app, select your team, and place your first bet. It really couldn't be any easier or any simpler. Baseball, golf, UFC. There's something for every fan of every sport to bet on DraftKings. And I know it's early, but football season will be here before you know it. And the Kansas City Chiefs are currently the favorite to win the Super Bowl on DraftKings at +550. And if you're new to DraftKings, you got to check this out. New customers bet $5. And get $150 in bonus bets instantly. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app now and use code HOOPS. That's H-O-O-P-S. That's code HOOPS for new customers to get $150 in bonus bets instantly when you bet just $5. Only on DraftKings. The crown is yours.
