Draymond Green staying with Warriors on a new 4-year deal, source tells AP #Draymond #Green #staying #Warriors #4year #deal #source #tells

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Draymond Green is sticking around to chase more championships with the Golden State Warriors after agreeing to a new $100 million, four-year contract, a person with direct knowledge of the agreement said.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday as the NBA’s free agency period began because the deal can’t be finalized until the moratorium period ends. The fourth year is at Green’s option.

Green had said he wanted to remain with the Warriors for the rest of his career playing alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson — a trio that has captured four titles together starting in 2015.

FILE - Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green celebrates after scoring against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half in Game 5 of the NBA basketball playoffs Western Conference finals in San Francisco, Thursday, May 26, 2022. The Warriors want to keep Green, yet the team is prepared for him to formally decline his $27.5 million player option for the final year of his contract next season and become an unrestricted free agent seeking a long-term deal. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

The Golden State Warriors want to keep Draymond Green, yet the team is prepared for him to formally decline his $27.5 million player option for the final year of his contract next season and become an unrestricted free agent seeking a long-term deal.

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr watches during the second half of Game 5 of the team's NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Coach Steve Kerr was frank about the lasting impact Draymond Green’s punch of Jordan Poole in a preseason practice had on the Golden State Warriors’ season, which ended with a second-round loss to the Lakers.

Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green speaks during an NBA basketball press conference, Saturday, April 22, 2023, in San Francisco. Green was suspended for one game without pay for stepping on the chest of Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis in Game 2 of the Warriors’ NBA basketball first-round playoff series. Green is expected to return in Game 4 Sunday. (AP Photo/Janie McCauley)

Draymond Green fully plans to be suspended again, and had some strong words for the NBA trying to make him an example of suspensions based on past behavior.

Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis, right, grabs a rebound against Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney, left, in the first quarter during Game 1 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs in Sacramento, Calif., Saturday, April 15, 2023. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas)

The Golden State Warriors have always been able to depend on Kevon Looney and the center realizes his role is suddenly as large as ever.

Green opted out of a $27.6 million contract for 2023-24 to seek a long-term deal.

New Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said at his introductory news conference June 19 that the organization was committed to keeping the fiery forward, who began last season by punching Jordan Poole during a training camp practice before taking a short leave of absence.

Poole was traded to Washington earlier in this offseason, in a move that brings veteran Chris Paul to the Warriors. Paul is under contract for just this coming season; Poole is entering a four-year deal that’ll pay him an average of more than $30 million annually, so that move was done in large part to give the Warriors future financial flexibility — needed by the rules of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement agreement that goes into effect Saturday.

The Warriors missed out defending their 2022 championship with a loss to LeBron James and the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals after getting by Sacramento in a seven-game first-round series.

Green was suspended for a Game 3 win against the Kings after stepping on the chest of Domantas Sabonis during a Game 2 defeat. The Warriors became the first defending champion to rally from an 0-2 deficit to win a playoff series.