Miami Heat: Few Places Would Be A Better On Or Off-Court Fit For Green
This is where things have the opportunity to get interesting. With the cast of characters down in Miami already, it could get downright spicy.
Off The Court
As great as all of this sounds, it can’t be ignored why he might be available. He punched a teammate in the face.
Can he come back from that? Kermit Washington was able to come back after decking Rudy Tomjanovich, but they weren’t teammates.
“Teammate” is an important title in NBA locker rooms and Green knows that as well as anyone. And while skirmishes happen within an organization all the time (see last year’s Heat kerfuffle) this was something that literally landed a bit differently.
These guys spend so much time together from October to, sometimes, June. They need to be able to feel safe around each other, especially in their own gym.
Being teammates in the NBA has typically been a brotherhood and brotherhoods are built around trust. That trust needs to be earned in every club but in Miami especially.
If Draymond wants to shape up his act, Pat Riley, Spoelstra, and Jimmy Butler will hold him more than accountable. There’s a code, not only, between teammates but within the league as well.
Draymond broke that code and there’s no way around that. Draymond knows he messed up, he’s admitted it and is no doubt reflecting on his actions and his future.
He can come back from this. This incident won’t be his legacy, but it will be a demerit on it.
He needs to really think about what the rest of his career looks like, especially if he wants another chance at a ring. Things might be too broken in the bay for him, but that doesn’t mean he needs to retire.
If Golden State does decide it’s time to part ways, few other contenders are a better fit on and off the court than the Miami Heat. So, yes, if it makes financial sense, they should definitely pursue him.