What happened: Golden State sat roughly $20 million below the first apron before Draymond Green declined his $27.7 million player option. With that money off the books, the Warriors are now positioned to access the full non-taxpayer midlevel exception this offseason.
Why it matters: The full $15 million non-tax midlevel is a far stronger tool than the smaller taxpayer version, giving Golden State real spending power in free agency. Crucially, the front office can deploy it and still retain enough flexibility to round out the bench rather than spending its entire allotment on one addition. Green's decision to enter free agency reshapes the team's entire offseason calculus.
By the numbers: Golden State was approximately $20M below the first apron prior to the opt-out. The move likely unlocks the full $15M non-taxpayer midlevel exception while preserving room to fill out the bench.
What to watch: Watch how Golden State allocates the midlevel as 2026-27 free agency opens, and whether the added flexibility factors into negotiations to retain Green.