Draymond Green discussed Celtics, sounded off on NBA’s second apron tax

Draymond Green on the Celtics and the second apron era in the NBA: In order to avoid the penalties of the NBA’s second tier luxury tax, both Kristaps Porzing and Jue Holiday, starting members of the 2024 championship, were handed salary-shedding deals during the Celtics’ offseason thus far.

The Celtics were able to avoid paying millions in luxury tax thanks to the transactions. However, Warriors forward Draymond Green couldn’t help but vent his irritation in a recent recording on his podcast, The Draymond Green Show With Baron Davis, when the full effects of the league’s new second apron era were evident.

The 35-year-old Green has won four titles with Golden State. However, after analyzing the Celtics’ moves, he believes that dynastic super teams may be coming to an end.

When questioned about the Holiday and Porzingis transactions, Green clarified that it all came down to the second apron. People claimed they no longer wanted super teams, so here it is.

“The reality of the system is that it becomes a hard cap that no owner is dealing with because the penalties are crazy,” Green added, adding that all of these maneuvers are being done to avoid that second apron.

Green emphasized the deal’s detrimental impact on players and faulted the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) for accepting it in the most recent collective bargaining agreement with the owners.

Green clarified that when I stated, prior to the contract being inked, that this is absurd and will ultimately harm players, nobody wanted to listen and everyone wanted to pretend that the PA was getting a wonderful deal.

“As the PA has done for years, the PA made a s*** deal,” he continued. Each year, the players become more screwed as the pot gets larger and the business gets better. That’s exactly the way this company operates.

Green believes that in the future, additional clubs with strong rosters—like Boston—will need to implement such salary-cutting measures.

Because that’s just how this CBA operates, you’ll see this continually occurring throughout the NBA for years to come. That’s my pitch. The second apron is that one. The Boston Celtics are that team.

Baron Davis, another podcast host, agreed.

Compared to teams you grew up watching, which were like, “Yeah, this team has been together for five years,” there will be more dispersed teams. “That’s going to be difficult,” Davis said.

In 2012, Draymond Green was chosen by the Warriors as a second-round pick. That year, who was selected first overall?

(The response is at the bottom.)

Hint: A few months ago, he was traded.

Schedules and scores:

On Sunday, the Red Sox fell to the Blue Jays 5-3. Tonight at 7:10 p.m., Boston kicks off a three-game series against the Reds at Fenway Park.

NBA free agency officially starts today at 6 p.m. ET, according to offseason news.

Additional information from Boston.com:

Red Sox fall to Jays 5-3 as Walker Buehler s struggles continue
10 players who could be fits for Celtics in NBA free agency
NBA insider says Kings could make a big offer for Jaylen Brown. What would possible deal look like?
Sam Hauser reportedly not likely to be a part of Celtics path to clear salary
Bruins sign Morgan Geekie to six-year, $33 million contract extension
5 players to watch for during Bruins Development Camp
Bruins reportedly interested in Brad Marchand reunion if he hits free agency
Red Sox RHP Jordan Hicks looks forward to role after being acquired in Rafael Devers trade
2025 NHL Draft: Bruins selection of James Hagens helps them earn solid marks in draft grades

In case you missed it, Adam Sandler made a brief visit at the NHL Draft to reveal Boston College’s James Hagens, the Bruins’ first-round selection.

U.S. advance: After playing to a 2-2 stalemate in the Gold Cup quarterfinals on Sunday, the U.S. men’s soccer team maintained composure and defeated Costa Rica in a penalty shot shootout. Wednesday at 7 p.m. is when Guatemala will play in the semifinals.

On this day in 2014, Cubs starter Jake Arrieta was no-hitting the Red Sox in the bottom of the eighth inning. Boston was already in trouble at 38-44 (six games out of first place), still suffering from the hangover from the 2013 championship. Chicago had a 2-0 lead thanks to Arrieta’s outstanding play.

Red Sox shortstop Stephen Drew, who is having a strange season, came up with two outs. Until late May, he was still an unregistered free agent even though he had played in the 2013 championship (hitting an insurance home run in the pivotal Game 6). In early June, Drew made his season debut, struggling at the plate, after Boston ultimately decided to bring him back on a one-year contract. Over the previous 11 games, he was only 2-for-38 when he walked to the batter’s box.

Drew grabbed a flat Arrieta fastball over the middle of the plate and swept it into right field for a base hit, working the count to 2-2. Although Boston still lost 2-0, it was a modest accomplishment that was appropriate for a baseball team in a bridge year. A month later, in a rare agreement between the two rivals, Drew would be transferred to the Yankees. However, he managed one of his 44 hits that season in a pinch to assist the Red Sox escape the humiliating fate of being no-hit at Fenway Park, even though he ended 2014 with a mere.162 average, by far the poorest statistical season of his career.

Daily highlight: During Sunday’s Red Sox game, Ceddanne Rafaela made an incredible catch appear nearly regular.

CEDDANNE, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?Y88rV8tujh pic.twitter.com/

Answer to the trivia: Anthony Davis

Since 2016, Hayden Bird has been employed at Boston.com as a sports staff writer. He covers every aspect of New England sports.