I have mixed feelings on this. On the one hand, I'm all for restorative justice, not being retributive and giving a guy a chance to get himself right. And, clearly, the core issue here is Draymond has some sort of unresolved mental issue. On the flip side, well, I just saw a clip from Joe Dumars and that seemed to be his position, too. A lot of... "this isn't about punishment, it's about getting Dray right" sort of language. In principle, I kind of agree, but that's basically been the position of the NBA throughout: one set of rules for 99% of the players, and Dray gets to slide. It isn't that I think they should be punitive just to be punitive, but the double standards are egregious and one has to think that's been part of enabling Green to think his shit doesn't stink and he can do whatever he wants to do. That brings me back to having an issue with Dumars being the primary arbiter of discipline. Woj talks about how Green "grew up in Dumars house" (not a precise quote, but words to that effect referring to Green's college years..so I don't think it's quite growing up) and just read this on ESPN:
I mean...his "father figure" since he was 16 has been in charge of his discipline? How is that not a clear conflict of interest? How is that not part of the story of how Green has skated time and time again?
I mean, I"m glad Dumars told him on Wednesday that the incidents need to stop. But how about someone tell Dumars and the NBA that a father figure should not be in charge of doling out discipline to his quasi-son? Yes Green clearly needs help and counseling and whatever. But part of that help is not treating him like he's the prodigal son who has a different set of rules. I still have the suspicion -- all the more after viewing Dumars -- that this indefinite suspension won't be that different than the Warriors having him take a vacation for clocking Poole. Yes, he needs help. But the NBA also needs to enforce rules and do so equitably, rather than having one set of rules for some players and a different set of rules for Green.
tl;dr: the best restorative justice in this case would be giving Green a good, long, definitive suspension with clear rules that when he comes back neither haranguing refs nor punching, kicking, pushing, stomping, punch-slapping other players will be permitted.
I obviously have a hard-on against Green as he's a pure piece of shit. That said, he is an intriguing personality not just because of his obvious intelligence and charm, but that he's both a great player and, weirdly, not really an "alpha-dog" even though, in general, that automatically goes with being a great player. I mean, anyone who has done what he has done has to have some of that alpha in him. But the beauty of his game is his willingness to not be an alpha dog on the court. He's remarkably ego-less in his play. There's a very good argument that he should shoot more/demand the ball more. But, at least as a player, he's almost the opposite of the typical NBA alpha dog. One of the most selfless players I've ever seen. It's a cliche to talk about guys who "do all the dirty work" but Green truly does sacrifice his own basketball ego to the greater team good to an amazing level. Frankly, he really should shoot more, demand the ball more. Much as I can't stand the guy for all the non-basketball things he does on the court (and off), his game is a thing of beauty in a non-alpha way.