Jeff Teague’s SHOCKING TRUTH: Draymond Green at Center Spells UTTER DOOM for Warriors
While almost all teams in the Western Conference made major moves in the 2025 offseason, the Golden State Warriorsstood as a rare exception that stayed away from all deals to give their superstars any boost to chase championships. Despite that, Jeff Teague believes the tandem of Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry gives them a legit chance of contending.
However, he insists that the Dubs can no longer rely on playing Draymond Green as their rim protector, as an undersized center will never take them far, given the rise in depth of other teams.
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Teague on Draymond playing center for the Warriors
At the moment, with less than two months remaining for the 2025-26 season to begin, Quentin Post is the only seven-footer on the Warriors roster. As a result, if the same script is followed and Draymond is forced to operate as the center, he will likely commit unnecessarily hard fouls just to match the intensity of other big men. That will once again potentially lead to technicals and suspensions, ultimately leaving the team shorthanded during his prolonged absence.
As a result, Teague urged that this trend needs to change for Golden State if they want to use Draymond in a more productive way.
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“I think they’ve got to get a big with that small ball lineup. I’m a fan of Draymond, but I just don’t think that’s going to hold up anymore. He can’t guard Jokic and all them dudes for a long period of time. I just don’t think that can hold up anymore. Jimmy is playing the four, all that small stuff. Not with OKC having Chet at the four and whoever they want to play at the five, or they just got too many options,” Teague said.
“I think Steph Curry is still one of the greatest. I think he’s still going to be able to lead a team and take over. I think Jimmy still has that mode, too. But after that, they get kind of spooky,” the retired point guard added.
Teague’s point makes plenty of sense. Green may no longer be the kind of forward that can average 15 points per game while filling out the statsheet with ease, but he can still contribute offensively, as evidenced by scoring in double-digits thrice during the team’s second-round against the Minnesota Timberwolves last year.
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The Warriors desperately need a big man
There is no doubt that right now, the Warriors need to give Butler and Curry some breathing room by ensuring they can still win games even when their two stars aren’t having explosive nights. Thus, the solution lies in adding a big man who can consistently finish at the rim using his size, get involved in pick-and-roll actions and even create easier looks for shooters like Buddy Hield on the perimeter.
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Additionally, having a traditional center who can protect the rim would allow Green to return to the perimeter, where he could orchestrate the defense, generate turnovers and fuel fast-break opportunities.
That being said, the scenario in the West seems more competitive than ever before. With teams like the Denver Nuggets and the OKC Thunder having multiple big men on their roster, Golden State’s small-ball strategy is certainly not the way to attain results. Will the Dubs’ front office make bold moves in the coming weeks? It is what remains to be seen.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.