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It would certainly shake up the NBA to see the Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green sent to the Detroit Pistons.
When it comes to trade talk in the NBA during this offseason, Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors hasn’t been one of the guys mentioned much, if at all. He’s pretty much said that he plans to retire after his current run with the Warriors.
But, how cool would it be to see this Michigan native return home to wrap up his career in the Motor City? Green grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, and quickly stood out on the Saginaw High School’s basketball team. He signed to play college basketball at Michigan State University after getting offers from other bigtime schools, including Michigan and Kentucky, and started out during the 2008-09 season.
Green was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft and helped lead them to four NBA championships in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022. He’s also considered one of the greatest defensive players of his era.
A Fun Trade Proposal That Brings Draymond Green to the Detroit Pistons
GettyGolden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green.
It’s a given that the Detroit Pistons’ biggest need for the future is for a solid power forward. Of course, Green would likely only be with the team for one year, so it doesn’t solve the problem of the future for the Pistons, but it could add some much-needed help in that area for the upcoming season.
Guys such as Jaren Jackson Jr., Devin Booker and Kevin Durant have been floated around as perfect fits for the Pistons’ roster, and that’s correct, especially as a long-term investment. But, bringing Green to Detroit to close out his NBA career would be nothing short of historic, and I can’t think of anything being a bigger deal in the NBA except perhaps LeBron James deciding to ditch the Lakers for a new gig.
In the age where the NBA is trying to get as many eyes on the game as possible, it could be appealing to see this kind of wild trade go off.
Detroit Swaps Picks for Green
GettyDraymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.
Of course, before I launch into this idea, remember that it’s simply an interesting trade idea that’s fun to contemplate. This would make the Pistons’ 2025-26 season even more of a treat to watch, especially for those who remember Green’s earlier days.
So, in this trade pitch, the Pistons would get Draymond Green, and the Warriors would get a Pistons 2027 second-round pick, 2029 second-round pick and 2031 second-round pick.
That’s a lot of picks, but they’re scattered to not hurt the Pistons all at once. Plus, the Pistons’ picks are dismal in 2026, so they aren’t going to give up their sole first-round pick that season.
This is a deal that would help position the Warriors for the future and, at the same time, give the Pistons some veteran help, and star power, in the upcoming season.
Green is certainly one of the more controversial players in the NFL, so he would come with drama, but that shouldn’t scare the Detroit Pistons too much. The bigger concern is that considering that Green has been one of the faces of the Warriors for so long, he probably wants to end his career there. Who can blame him? But, it’s a fun concept, and Tom Izzo would love it.
Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson
