In this episode of The Draymond Green Show, Draymond Green and Stephen Curry discuss a long‑rumored trade that almost sent Curry to the Milwaukee Bucks during the lockout‑year trade deadline. Draymond introduces the rumor that the Warriors would have traded Andrew Bogut and Monta Ellis to Milwaukee in exchange for Curry, and suggests that Milwaukee doctors blocked the deal by deeming Curry’s ankles unfit. Curry confirms the trade was indeed being negotiated, describing how he learned of the move in the locker room via a breaking‑news ticker that announced the Monta Ellis‑Andrew Bogut swap. He recounts the atmosphere in the locker room, the presence of coach Mark Jackson, and the uncertainty surrounding the potential move. The conversation touches on accountability, the impact of medical opinions on NBA trades, and the emotional reaction to the news.
Chapters
What's up everybody? It's Draymond Green. Make sure you subscribe to the Volumes YouTube channel below so you don't miss any more of this great content going forward. Rumor has it, I'm not sure if you've ever confirmed this or if anyone ever has confirmed it, but rumor has it that we trade, the Warriors, I can't say we, 'cause I was not here yet, but the Warriors trade for Andrew Bogut and they trade Monta Ellis. Draymond Green to the Milwaukee Bucks. Andrew Bogut comes back. Rumor has it that the trade initially was for you to go to Milwaukee and Montae Ellis to still be here.
Bogut coming in.
The Milwaukee doctors who probably should be fired.
We firing everybody.
Listen, I'm on this whole notion of accountability. Everybody wanna hold us accountable. I'm holding everybody accountable. You did it. Milwaukee doctor. I hope they still not the same doctor there. But Milwaukee doctors, they didn't approve your ankles, said your ankles would be no good. And so they stopped the trade and then ultimately Montaé gets traded. Do you know that to be 100% true? And at that time, were you expecting to be traded or was when that news finally came out, was that news to you?
The doctor part, like I can't put a name to it, but I know that was a part of the conversation because it all happened at once for me. I know exactly where we were. We were in Sacramento. It's the lockout year. So it's right at the trade deadline. We get to the arena and walk in the locker room. First, I was on the first bus. Monte usually comes on the second bus. We were kind of, we were outside of playoff, seeding, but we were trying to make a little push. Like we were like 10th, like maybe 4 or 5, 6 games out of it. But we thought we had enough time to, you know, make a run. And we get in the locker room and it's kind of a different energy, you know, around trade deadline. It's always like that. But this was different. And it was like, it's a little quiet in here. Like what's going on? Mark Jackson's the coach at the time. It was his first year. Get in the locker room and I'm getting taped, getting ready to play in the game. And you see across the ticker on the TV in the locker room, like, Breaking news, NBA trade, Warriors trade Monte Ellis, Epe Udo, and somebody else for Andrew Bogut. And that's how we found out.
Wow.
We were on the locker room like, yo, what the hell? What, what's going on? So Monte shows up, he just got off the phone with his agent. His agent just called him. And this is maybe an hour and a half before the game, 2 hours before the game. So then, you know, he's kind of like, emotional, but kind of resolute, like this is happening. Like, forget y'all. Not the team, but forget the organization in terms of like, he was the true ultimate warrior. Like he was a fan favorite, deservedly so. We Believe, the last one from the We Believe team had grown into a veteran presence and leader in that respect. So it was a tough, tough blow for like all of Dub Nation. It wasn't really received well. Yeah. So that's how it went down. Everybody kind of said their goodbyes to Monte, efe, they left. And then Coach Jackson pulled me out at the locker room. He was like, yo, I just had to let you know, like, they wanted you in the trade, but for whatever reason, like, and that's part of the documentary, all that didn't go down like that. He's like, I kind of stepped in too and said, I'm gonna give you the keys. I felt like I really believe in you. We just gotta get you healthy. And that's what the rest of the season gonna be about. You know, his line, "Don't make me a liar." Don't make me a liar. And so that was when it was like the trade happened and like, oh, by the way, that could have been you type vibe all at the same time. Crazy, crazy day. I'll never forget that moment 'cause it definitely set the tone for what, you know, the next chapter's about to be about.
