Former Spartan Draymond Green reportedly has 'significant interest' in joining Pistons
Draymond Green coming home to play for the Pistons?
Don't get too excited quite yet.
According to a report by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports and FOX Sports One, the former Saginaw and Michigan State star has "significant interest" in signing an offer sheet with the Pistons this summer.
On paper, that's fantastic news for Stan Van Gundy. In his third season, Green has turned into a significant reason that the Golden State Warriors have turned into one of the NBA's best teams. Playing next to the Splash Brothers -- Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson -- Green can play defense, rebound and hit 3-pointers.
That's exactly the type of player that Van Gundy needs to build his kind of team, especially if Greg Monroe leaves as an unrestricted free agent. And, for a franchise that has struggled to lure top free agents, Green is someone who grew up in Michigan and still considers it home.
It isn't quite as simple as it sounds, though. The Warriors don't want Green to leave, and for obvious reasons, he's quite happy playing for a team that has a serious chance at an NBA title. Golden State will have a chance to match any offer Green receives, and with some roster moves, the Pistons would have to give Green a contract at or close to the league maximum.
For all his talent, leadership ability and built-in fan base, that's a risky move for a player who is more suited to be a major complimentary piece on a championship-level team, not the foundation. If Green takes another step forward, he and Andre Drummond would give Van Gundy two All-Star caliber players, and a healthy Brandon Jennings would be a third.
None of that is guaranteed -- even Drummond is waiting for his first trip to the All-Star game -- but it might be the kind of chance the Pistons need to take to jump up the Eastern Conference ladder.
