After winning his fourth NBA title with the Golden State Warriors, Draymond Green has asked for a four-year, $138.4 million max extension with intentions to explore other team options if the Warriors choose not to pay.

Through the eyes of the Warriors organization and fanbase, the easy answer would be to pay Green the max. However, with salary woes looming around the Warriors like a dark cloud, the Warriors are left in a tough situation between letting go of a key piece to their historic dynasty.

Let’s not make the confusion that the Warriors can’t afford Green as of now. The real question is will he be worth that max in year three or four of the extension? The answer does not necessarily have to do with the in-game performance of Green. The answer depends on who the Warriors choose to invest their future toward.

The problem Joe Lacob faces is that four core guys are eligible for a contract extension and are all contenders for the max. Green, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Jordan Poole’s rookie contract are the notable names for an extension. Extending all players would result in luxury tax penalties, a situation that Lacob has vocally expressed will not be an option. The likely result of the entire situation is that one of those four players has to go. However, who do you let go?

Thompson has two years left on his contract. There is no rush to pay him just yet. Wiggins has pushed his career to new heights after being named an All-Star starter and was a pivotal piece to the Warriors’ playoff run on both ends of the floor. Poole has a very high ceiling, showing signs of an elite shooter and a spark on the offensive end coming off the bench.

Green has solidified himself as one of the smartest players in the NBA. We know his job is not to score the ball but to do everything else. Direct traffic on both sides of the ball, guard every position on the floor and be the enforcer. So the criticism of Green being only effective when Curry and Thompson are on the court is valid.

Can the Warriors replace such an important cog in the machine? Probably not. Can Green be as impactful for another franchise similar to the warriors? Maybe. In this interesting case of money and loyalty, both parties seem to be at a losing end if there is no agreement, more so on Green’s end. This could make for an interesting free agency period next season.