The Golden State Warriors are breaking up in some capacity this offseason. KD is already out the door, and given the speculation that Klay Thompson also wants out, this will leave Steph Curry and Draymond Green. While Boogie could re-sign with the team, I am unsure if he would be willing to, as he doesn’t want to be treated the same as KD. This would force Draymond to be more active on offense, but is this good for his career?
The Issue with Ibaka
Serge Ibaka was a beast with Oklahoma City. Drafted in 2009, he started 44 games in 2010, then all 66 games in the lockout shortened 2011 season. While Serge made his name on defense, leading the league in blocks 2011-12 and 2012-13 with 3.7 and 3.0 BPG, respectively. At the same time, Ibaka was also regarded as a decent option on offense. During his time with Oklahoma, Ibaka averaged 11.5 points on roughly 52.6% shooting. Over this stretch, he even managed to his 32.5% of his shots from behind the arc. While these numbers do not jump out at you, they made Ibaka a solid piece on a team with Westbrook, KD, and (for a few seasons) Harden. Without these great offensive players, Serge is a “meh” player. Should be in the league, but won’t make or break a team. Can you think of another player like this?
Draymond Green is the Same Player
While Draymond didn’t rack up the block numbers that Serge did, averaging 1.1 per game over his career, he is known for his defense. On offense, Draymond scores 9.1 points per game on a 43.9%/32.3% split. One way Draymond surpasses Ibaka is in assists. Green averages 4.6 assists per game, while Ibaka only averaged an assist per game once with Oklahoma City. What does this mean for Draymond Green going forward?
It Doesn’t Matter How Draymond Does
Draymond has hit his peak. I do not think he is going to get better, and I’m not predicting a huge dropoff. His assist numbers will dip if he has fewer catch and shoot guys around him. His scoring will go up slightly, as he will get more shots, but not skyrocket because defenses will focus more on him. We all know the player Draymond Green is, and Ibaka was the same. After leaving Oklahoma City, Ibaka’s numbers remained relatively constant.
Serge’s block numbers took a major step back, but his points per game actually increased. This doesn’t matter. Even as Serge improved as a scorer, he was not surrounded by the “Next NBA Dynasty,” so people stopped talking about him. This is Draymond’s future. Some players take a step forward when they get the opportunity, but Draymond won’t. He was a 2nd round pick for a reason, and while he has carved out a solid career, the Warriors are in trouble if both KD and Klay walk.
If you think I am wrong and Draymond has another gear, let me know on Twitter @Langles96
