As a native of Saginaw, Draymond Green has long been speculated to one day come play for his home-state team, the Detroit Pistons.
Green has opted out of his $27.7 million option for the 2026-27 season with the Golden State Warriors and is set to become a free agent.
As much as some Pistons fans hope this development will allow the Michigan State alumnus to return to Michigan, the decision to opt out of his current contract is most likely intended to help the Warriors make a bid for LeBron James, who is also currently a free agent after spending eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. The decision could also help the Warriors facilitate a trade for Washington Wizards’ star big man Anthony Davis.
Regardless of whether they sign James, Green is expected to rejoin Golden State on a more affordable deal, which could give the Warriors greater flexibility to revamp the roster around their future Hall of Fame guard, Stephen Curry.
Now 36 and in the twilight of his career, Green could still make valuable contributions wherever he plays; he remains a respected defender in the league.
Green has also been fond of watching the franchise’s rise out of purgatory over the previous two seasons, culminating in the 2025-26 season, when the Pistons won 60 regular-season games. He has been impressed by the improvement of several Pistons players, particularly Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren’s rise to All-NBA status.
Green showed his support for the Pistons by sitting courtside during the team’s 107-97 Game 2 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers during the Eastern Conference semifinals on May 7.
“He’s (Cunningham) taken the next step for sure…Just to see his growth, to see him number one embrace the city of Detroit, put some Buffs on, on draft night and then bring Detroit basketball back to prominence. It’s a beautiful thing to watch,” Green said in January. “Looking forward to continuing to watch their growth over the years. They seem like they have a group that can be together for a long time and do a lot of damage. They’re starting to make their trek at it, so it’s fun to watch.”
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: After opting out, is Draymond Green a viable option for Pistons?
Reporting by Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
