This is shaping up to be quite an injury-filled season for the Golden State Warriors. And it’s going to continue that way, as do-it-all forward Draymond Green will remain sidelined for the rest of the Warriors road trip.
Steve Kerr said Draymond Green had a ramped up workout this morning, but has already been ruled out for final three games of road trip.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 3, 2018
It’s encouraging that Green is increasing his workouts, but still not the news that fans (and the team) were hoping for. With the three remaining road games already ruled out, the earliest that Green can return is in one week, when the Warriors host the new look Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, December 10.
The three-time All-Star has now missed a good chunk of the season. He sprained his toe nearly a month ago, on November 5 against the Memphis Grizzlies. After sitting out two games, he returned to play two out of three games, before being benched indefinitely. He hasn’t played since the November 15 blowout loss to the Houston Rockets, and has now sat for eight games straight, and 11 games total.
Even if Green returns for the Minnesota game, this toe injury - which initially seemed so mild - will have cost him 14 games. Needless to say, it’s been a frustrating stretch for Green, who started the season playing the world class defense that earned him the Defensive Player of the Year trophy in 2017.
And with Damian Jones joining Green, DeMarcus Cousins, and Alfonzo McKinnie on the injured portion of the bench, the Warriors are really struggling with depth.