Game 2 between the Phoenix Suns and the LA Clippers was an incredible matchup featuring some of the NBA’s biggest stars. However, Shams Charania broke news during the second half that would make the game secondary to most basketball fans. Draymond Green had been suspended for Game 3 of the Golden State Warriors’ series against the Sacramento Kings.
Draymond Green has been suspended for Game 3.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 19, 2023
The news was shocking despite the severity of Green’s actions because he received a Flagrant Foul 2 and an ejection during the game. Domantas Sabonis also grabbed Green prior to the stomp and received a Flagrant Foul 1 for his actions.
Draymond has been given a Flagrant 2 and was ejected after this play pic.twitter.com/aKDqJ174Q0
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 18, 2023
Draymond Green was Suspended for Game 3 of the Warriors-Kings Series
Did Draymond Green’s Actions Warrant a Suspension?
Adrian Wojnarowski provided much-needed context from Joe Dumars, the league executive charged with issuing Green’s punishment.
Dumars to ESPN on weighing the circumstances of the Warriors down 2-0 to the Kings in the series: “You know what the situation is, but you have to set that aside and look at the facts in front of you…Repeat offender weighs as heavy as anything.” https://t.co/8pueVedwyb
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 19, 2023
Green having a history of over-the-top on-court incidents is undeniable. Just last season, Green was ejected for a Flagrant Foul 2 against Brandon Clarke during the Warriors’ second-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies. Green memorably dapped up his teammates and coaches after they sealed a one-point victory over the Grizzlies. Green faced no further punishment as a result of that play, though, and Clarke didn’t initiate the altercation and receive a Flagrant Foul like Sabonis.
There is some precedent for this suspending a previously-ejected player. In the same Warriors-Grizzlies series, Dillon Brooks was suspended for Game 3 after receiving a Flagrant Foul 2 for clobbering Gary Payton II in midair. Brooks broke Payton’s elbow. Sabonis was not injured to the same degree, although he is questionable for Game 3 with a sternum contusion.
Dumars also makes it clear that Green’s past actions played a role in the suspension. Interestingly, Dumars is a former Kings executive and a mentor to Green, per Anthony Slater. One can also wonder if Green’s interactions with the crowd played a role in the suspension; Commissioner Adam Silver was in the building for Game 2.
Kings fans were giving it to Draymond, and he was giving it right back pic.twitter.com/3TgnGj7crI
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 18, 2023
How Will the Warriors Respond to Draymond Green’s Suspension?
The Warriors face an 0-2 hole without one of the greatest defenders of all time and their emotional leader. Steve Kerr and staff essentially have two options: replace Green with a bigger player and try to slow the Kings down at home, or play one of their plethora of guards more and hope to outscore Sacramento.
Green is too idiosyncratic a player to replace one-for-one neatly. Jonathan Kuminga, Anthony Lamb, and JaMychal Green are not providing Green’s rim protection, passing, or leadership. Kuminga is the most intriguing of these options. He’s one of the best perimeter defenders on the team and has the athleticism to keep up with Sacramento. He can also (theoretically) score around the rim due to the Kings’ lacking rim protection. Kuminga has looked lackadaisical so far in this series. He needs to increase his intensity to have an impact after playing just four minutes in Game 2.
Kerr could opt to start Payton or Jordan Poole in Green’s place while increasing Donte DiVincenzo’s minutes. Poole was injured earlier in the series and is currently playing on “half a foot,” while DiVincenzo hasn’t had a strong defensive impact and didn’t attempt a shot in Game 2. Payton plays bigger than his size and is a great option to slow down De’Aaron Fox or Malik Monk. Starting Payton is probably the correct move, although Kerr will have to watch the injury-prone player’s minutes. When a player of Green’s caliber is unavailable, there are no simple solutions.
