Re-signing Green is Warriors’ top offseason priority

Lee has been one of the central figures in the Warriors’ culture change since his 2010 sign-and-trade acquisition — from seeing the team off with baked goods before his elbow surgery that November to picking up most of the tab for a team-wide Las Vegas getaway last week.

When he missed the beginning of the 2014-15 season with a strained hamstring and watched Green take a stranglehold on the starting power-forward spot during the team’s 21-2 run, Lee was a true professional in taking a backseat.

After setting career highs in average points (11.7), rebounds (8.2) and assists (3.7), he is expected to command close to a maximum deal starting at $15.8 million next season.

Green has been vocal about his desire to stay with the Warriors, and the team has been so frank about its plan to match any opponent’s offer sheet that it has received warnings from the NBA.



Since the Warriors have a great relationship with his representation and may offer Green as much as a five-year deal worth more than $90 million — while opposing teams may offer only as much as a four-year deal worth more than $67 million — it’s possible that the power forward and the Warriors could reach an agreement in principle before he even entertains other teams.

The Warriors are among the teams to show interest in guard Marco Belinelli, a longshot to sign for the taxpayer’s mid-level exception starting at almost $3.4 million. …