McCollum recently spoke with Draymond Green on the Golden State Warriors veteran’s podcast and CJ provided some insight on what it’s like to mentor a guy like Zion. McCollum revealed that he eased into it early on: “I didn’t force it,” McCollum said. “I didn’t want to be the old head that preaches because I know what that looks like. I was more like, show first, then I tell.” McCollum then described how he let his own actions do the talking. He didn’t want to be all bark and no bite, so he made sure to lead by example. Williamson responded well to this approach and the two have since become very close. -via Clutch Points / February 1, 2023

Draymond Green has a player option for next season that he is widely expected to decline. In turn, the Warriors run the risk of losing him. And according to sources who spoke with Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports, the Warriors need to Green at this year’s February 9 trade deadline. “They should [trade him this year],” a Western Conference executive told Deveney “If they made the decision that they’re not giving up any of the young kids, then that’s fine, but are you going to just keep chugging forward with what you’ve got? Obviously, the Draymond punch with [Jordan] Poole was a bigger deal than they let on, it is still dragging down that team. No doubt about it.” -via Heavy.com / February 1, 2023

In addition, other sources who have spoken to Deveney reported that there is a “pretty strong” chance Green will leave the Warriors this summer anyways. “Pretty strong,” a Western Conference executive said of Green’s chances to leave the Warriors. “If they win a championship again this year, there will be pressure to keep things together, but the stuff with the punch [on Jordan Poole] in the preseason, that probably put the nail in it. There was already a good chance he would go just because his production is not what it was and he is getting older [32]. It would be hard to justify paying him $20-something-million a year.” -via Heavy.com / February 1, 2023