What Draymond Green’s return can (and can’t) solve for Golden State.

AFTER A DEFENSIVE breakdown in the second quarter of Saturday’s 129-118 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson walked over to Draymond Green to discuss how Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard drove with ease to the hoop for a wide-open layup.

Later in the fourth quarter as Golden State’s defense faded, Green ran from his spot on the bench to point Atkinson toward another defensive error. The Warriors’ start to 2024 has been full of them.

“He was talking to [his teammates] about how to guard certain guys, which direction to send them,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said after the game about Green’s involvement from the bench.

“Draymond is a huge help, but I’m more looking forward to getting him back on the floor.”

Since his reinstatement following his indefinite suspension for striking Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic on Dec. 12, Green — who is expected to return to game action Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies — will now try to revive a struggling Warriors team that’s in 12th place in the Western Conference.

Green’s suspension lasted 12 games, and he has missed an additional four working on his conditioning. He was also suspended five games in November for putting Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a chokehold.

Throughout Green’s recent 16-game absence, the Warriors are second worst in the league in defense, allowing 123.8 points per 100 possessions, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Warriors have also given up at least 70 first-half points four times this season, all of which occurred in their past six games.

After last week’s 141-105 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans — Golden State’s worst home loss since March 2007 — Kerr said the team was “lacking confidence.”

But Green, a four-time All-Star, will help stabilize a rotation missing Moses Moody, Chris Paul and Gary Payton II because of injuries. Green’s return could also limit minutes for Jonathan Kuminga — a player Kerr has increasingly relied on and who started in 14 of those games without Green.

If there’s any area that could be immediately impacted by Green’s return, it’s the Warriors’ defense. But even the former Defensive Player of the Year said his return won’t solve everything that ails this team.

“Nothing ever just flips,” Green told ESPN. “I don’t look at myself as some savior, like this is going to save our defense or anything like that. I think I can help with communication.

“‘And like with everything else, it’s contagious.”