United States West Notes: Warriors, Draymond Green, Lakers, Clippers, Paul George

Warriors

Coach Steve Kerr suggested why Stephen Curry got so emotional after Draymond Green was ejected early in the Warriors’ road win over the Magic.

“Every game being so important. And us fighting for everything and for Draymond to get kicked out three minutes in,” Kerr said on 95.7 The Game. “It was really unforgivable. And I think Steph may have been a little upset with himself for not pulling Draymond out of there but I think mostly it was just, come on, man.

• Green himself spoke about the ejection on his podcast, as Ashish Mathur relayed here. “It just can’t happen,” Green said. “I said what I said. I deserved to be kicked out at that point.” (Full story)

Lakers

Former NBA guard Jamal Crawford suggested the Lakers may want to look into trading Anthony Davis this summer.

“They don’t have enough to even compete right now,’ Crawford said, via Playmaker. “And my thing is, if [LeBron James] is still your best player at this point, I’m looking at trading Anthony Davis.”

• Guard D’Angelo Russell said he doesn’t think Davis is injury-prone. “I think that’s a huge misconception,” Russell said. “It does nothing but motivate him. (Full post)
• Russell also said he thinks the Lakers are better than their record. They proved as much in the playoffs last year, of course. (Full post)
• As your Ashish Mathur relayed here, James told reporters he intends to be “very strategic” about “games and how many days in between games” he gives himself to rest his left foot issue.

Clippers

The rumors surrounding Paul George and his impending free agency are already heating up, with George reportedly being linked to the 76ers.

As our Ashish Mathur relayed here, the Sixers are “closely monitoring” George’s situation with the Clippers.

“You can argue that it would be best for George to move if the Clippers don’t up their offer,” wrote Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “And that’s where the Sixers, who could create close to $65 million in cap space this summer, come in. Even if George isn’t interested in Philly, it makes sense for him to entertain the idea and force the Clippers’ hand.”

• The Clippers may not be willing to meet George’s expectations for a new contract this summer, Mathur relayed here.
• Some around the NBA actually expect George to leave Los Angeles for Philadelphia. (Full post)