According to Los Angeles Lakers source Anthony Irwin, Draymond Green may have been the catalyst for talks between the Golden State Warriors and former Lakers coach Darvin Ham. Rumors circulated earlier this week that Ham and the Bay Area team had discussed Ham’s possible job as assistant coach.

Irwin clarified the purpose of the two sides’ discussion. However, although it was well-agreed that a coach would take Kenny Atkinson’s position if he were to depart the Warriors. According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, a Lakers reporter, Irwin emphasized veteran forward Draymond Green at the meeting.

Jovan Buha said at 35:58 timestamp: “For the Warriors specifically, he and Draymond are from the same neighborhood. Draymond has some issues flying off the handle. If Steve Kerr tells Darvin who is a big guy, a big authority, ‘Hey, just tell Draymond not to do Draymond stuff? Just make sure he doesn’t get suspended.’ I could actually see Darvin being great there.”

Ham was let go after playing with the Lakers for two seasons and leading the team to consecutive postseason appearances. However, he received release papers when the Denver Nuggets defeated him in back-to-back postseason series.

Ham was an assistant coach for several clubs before joining the Lakers, including the Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, and Nuggets.

Draymond Green and the Warriors Have a Lot of Work to Do Before Next Season

The appointment of an assistant coach is one of the many problems the Golden State Warriors must address after missing the playoffs. The team’s summer preparations are something to watch out for. They have a lot to do, from resolving Klay Thompson’s contract issues to selecting the best players to add to Steph Curry.

Furthermore, the $30 million contract of veteran Chris Paul is not guaranteed, and it’s likely that the Warriors will let go of their experiment with a seasoned guard leading the second unit. It’s possible that Thompson, Curry, and Green played their final season together as Golden State’s “Big 3.”

There is no information available on Ham’s potential addition to the coaching staff. However, the Dubs might succeed in defense if they sign him to a deal. Ham, as a coach, brings a defense-first mentality to the team. This will help Green reach a new level of performance the following season.