Is Green going or staying, and the Warriors are waiting for Curry's words?

This article was compiled from: CBS Sports

作者:Colin Ward-Henninger

原标题：Draymond Green testing limits of Steph Curry's steadfast loyalty with latest incident, indefinite suspension

Curry, Green and Klay won four championships in 12 years. They faced countless obstacles on and off the pitch, but they persevered. It's all about loyalty: loyalty to the team, loyalty to the Bay Area, and most importantly, loyalty to each other.

Green, who was suspended for five games in mid-November for choking Gobert, appears to have been motivated by his unwavering loyalty. "I don't regret it," Green said after the incident. "Whenever I get the chance, I protect my teammates. A noble reason, but in exchange for intolerable behavior.

However, Green's most recent disappointing act — slapping Nurkic on the head — has already led to an indefinite ban from the league. This time, it was the limits of his declared loyalty that were being tested. Have the Warriors and their teammates had enough?

Green was not waived by the Warriors because Curry wanted him to stay

Less than two months ago, former Warriors general manager Myers was asked the question: What would Harden do with his trade request? Myers' answer was simple: Go to your star player and do what he says. Myers has dealt with a ton of issues during his 12-year tenure with the Warriors, and when it comes to making tough decisions, only one person's opinion matters. That's Stephen Curry.

"Stephen Curry's importance is at the top of the [Warriors] building, and I'm in that position (Myers puts his hands on the floor)," he said on ESPN at the end of October. "I went to Curry and asked him, 'What do you want to do?' All questions have been answered. ”

Green has been ejected 19 times, a ban in the NBA Finals that cost the Warriors a championship, a team ban for insulting then-teammate Durant during a game, a punch to Poole's face, and two bans in the first 23 games of the 2023-24 season...... Why is such a troublesome guy still a Warriors player? Because Curry has always wanted him to stay here, it's as simple as that.

Green keeps pushing the bottom line, is Curry finally fed up?

But now, with the Warriors' record at 10-13, the stench of dynastic decay is more suffocating than ever, and Green's antics and the disruption he has caused to the team are constantly challenging the baseline of the Warriors and Curry, and may eventually exceed his irreplaceable on-court value to the team. If Mike Dunleavy Jr., the current general manager of the Warriors, approached Curry as Myers did in the past and asked him what Green's future would be, what would Curry's answer be this time around?

Green has three years left on his contract, about $75 million, and he's hard to trade. However, his performances over the past few seasons have been relatively consistent, and it is not impossible that a team with the quality to win the title may seriously consider this excellent defender. However, the final decision may have to come from Curry.

A day ago, when asked about Green's recent events, Curry, who has always been well-mannered and thoughtful, sounded and looked a little angry.

"We always tell him that you can't change who you are as a player, the competitive spirit that you have, the physicality that you play," Curry said. But you can't give people a reason to get you off the pitch, a reason to look at you in a certain way...... So, it's tough because we need him on the pitch and obviously his ejection changes the momentum or the mood of the game. ”

Is Green going or staying, will Curry miss the old love again?

Curry said all the right things as always, but the end of his response resonated similarly with the message the league delivered through an indefinite suspension. It's time for a change – and only a real change for Green will allow him to return to the basketball court.

"It's going to be a challenge. We are here to support him. We have faith in him and believe that he can do that. Yes, we obviously need him to win. "

It seems that Curry still wants to give Green a chance to mend his ways, but he won't give it again and again. Green's actions have destroyed the Warriors' chemistry and record, and also affected Curry's hopes of winning the championship again. If there is a real possibility of trading Green, do you think Curry will vote in favor this time?

As CBS Sports wrote on the subheadline, "Ultimately, Green's future in Golden State may be in the hands of his longtime teammate."