Draymond Green Next Team Odds: Mavericks Favored, Philly Makes Most Sense

With Draymond Green seeking counseling following his incident with Jusuf Nurkic, there is doubt as to whether Green will even suit up for the Golden State Warriors ever again. This doubt has caused the sportsbooks to release some NBA odds for Green regarding his next team if traded by the Warriors.

Let's dive in with the latest betting odds for Green's next team, as well as my personal NBA picks on where I think he lands.

Draymond Green next team odds

Team (if traded from the Warriors)	Odds
Dallas Mavericks	+210
Los Angeles Lakers	+300
Cleveland Cavaliers	+500
Indiana Pacers	+500
Sacramento Kings	+500
Detroit Pistons	+800
Philadelphia 76ers	+800
San Antonio Spurs	+800

Odds as of December 19, 2023.

Draymond Green's situation at a glance

In case you missed it, Draymond Green was suspended indefinitely by the NBA and is required to complete some counseling following his hit to the face of Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic. This is the second incident of the season for Green, who was also suspended for five games earlier in the year for putting Rudy Gobert in a chokehold. 

Draymond Green has been suspended indefinitely for striking Jusuf Nurkić in the face

The NBA says this outcome takes into account Green’s repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts pic.twitter.com/SglgaC0h5P

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 14, 2023

These are only his incidents from this season: He has an entire highlight reel you can watch on X, and nobody forgets the Superman punch he threw at Jordan Poole last season during practice.

If this were a couple of seasons ago and the Golden State Warriors were a Top 3 seed in the Western Conference, I don't think it would even be a question that the Warriors would just wait for the suspension to end and add Draymond Green back. Unfortunately for Green, this isn't the current state of the Warriors. They're losing and need new life within the starting lineup.

It's easy to go to bat for a player who is a complete headache on your roster when you're winning, but when you aren't even in a spot to make the Play-In Tournament, the vibes change quickly.

While Golden State gave Green and company this opportunity to run it back at the beginning of the season, the front office's patience might be incredibly lower now — especially when you have young players who should be starting. I think this is what ultimately gets Green traded.

Jonathan Kuminga is a starter in the NBA, plain and simple. The 21-year-old has more bounce than a bad check, and if the Warriors don't start elevating his role, they risk losing one of the future pieces of this franchise when Steph Curry and Klay Thompson eventually retire.

If Golden State didn't have two young pieces such as Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski — who both are making a strong case to be starters in the NBA — the Green situation would look incredibly different.

These two players are arguably the Warriors' future, and it would be incredibly tough to send them back to the bench following Green's suspension being over when you know Green is only here for the short term. 

If the Dubs are going to make the most of the final years of Stephen Curry as an All-NBA talent, I think they'll do it with a mix of youth and veteran role players. The days of running it back with the same group are most likely over for Golden State if it wants to remain competitive in the Western Conference, and this Green suspension gives the Warriors' front office an out to finally shake up this roster.

Draymond Green's next team favorites

Dallas Mavericks (+210)

The Dallas Mavericks come in as the favorites in this market to land Green in a trade, and it honestly isn't all that shocking to see them in this spot. The Mavs were also one of the favorites to land Green in the offseason when he was a free agent, so there is mutual interest here the sportsbooks are aware of.

While Dallas may have had interest in the offseason, I feel like its opinion might be drastically different now. Rookie Dereck Lively has stepped up big time for the Mavericks, posing as a rim protector on defense and a lob threat on offense.

Additionally, Dallas may have struck gold with the offseason signing of Dante Exum. Exum was a former high draft pick by the Utah Jazz who didn't pan out in the NBA, but after spending some time overseas, he's returned to the Mavericks and has turned into quite the role player for them.

I don't like the Mavs as a +210 favorite in this market.

They've already made it clear they're comfortable outscoring you instead of winning with defense, and I don't think Dallas' front office would have the same level of interest in acquiring Green now as they did back in the summer.

Los Angeles Lakers (+300)

To me, the Los Angeles Lakers make more sense than the Mavericks as one of the favorites just from a fit standpoint, and we also know Green and LeBron James have a strong friendship.

Adding Green to the Lakers could make their defense one of the top units in the NBA when you consider the emergence of Cam Reddish on the perimeter and Anthony Davis on the interior. Everything I think the Lakers want Taurean Prince to be in their starting lineup, Green actually is.

Would I bet on the Lakers to land Green in a trade? Absolutely not because the Warriors would also be aware of how much the addition of Green to L.A.'s roster would help. Why would Golden State help a team within the division when its own championship window is closing?

If the Warriors are trading Green, I think it's to the Eastern Conference. It's also a complicated trade for the Lakers to make: they would have to find someone willing to take on D'Angelo Russell's contract as well. They aren't in a position to just add $22 million in salary with Green.

Draymond Green next team odds pick

Philadelphia 76ers (+800)

The Philadelphia 76ers seem destined to add someone to their starting lineup before the trade deadline. It's felt this way ever since they made the James Harden trade and acquired multiple draft picks and expiring contracts. I doubt the plan is to have Nicolas Batum in the starting lineup come playoff time.

We've seen rumors such as Zach LaVine to the 76ers, but I feel pretty strongly they won't add an offensive piece, and it will be more of a defensive player. I don't think the Sixers want to disrupt the chemistry and hierarchy of their offense, which is being led by Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

What Philly could desperately use is another defensive-minded player, and this would give Nick Nurse more options for his rotation come playoff time. If Nurse needs defense, he can use Green, if it's offense, we can turn to Kelly Oubre Jr. 

Green is also a strong fit for the 76ers because his offensive game won't disrupt Maxey and Embiid. Green plays within his role on offense and can also set up Embiid with his passing.

If I were betting on who Green would be traded to, it would definitely be an Eastern Conference team, and I heavily lean toward the 76ers in this market.

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