Programming note: Bulls-Warriors coverage starts tonight at 7:00 p.m. with Warriors Pregame Live on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, and streaming live right here.
Throughout the season, Steve Kerr has repeatedly referred to Draymond Green as the Warriors' "heartbeat."
The third-year "jack of all trades" is averaging 11.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.
Through 42 contests, he's already made more 3-pointers (62) than he did all of last season (55).
On top of that, he's third in the NBA in "Defensive Real Plus-Minus" -- which "isolates the unique plus-minus impact of each NBA player for the effects of each teammate and opposing player."
Green is making $915,243 this season, but is set for a massive payday when he becomes a restricted free agent on July 1, 2015.
[REWIND: If Warriors 'expecting a discount' with Green, 'they're crazy']
There has been a lot of buzz lately about Golden State's payroll situation in 2015-16 and if the team is willing to go deep into the luxury tax to re-sign Green.
"Draymond is gonna be a part of this franchise for the next 8-10 years," Kerr said on KNBR 680-AM Monday afternoon.
Last May, majority owner/CEO Joe Lacob emphatically told Greg Papa on Yahoo SportsTalk Live, "We are going to re-sign Klay Thompson. I will just say that unequivocally."
On Oct. 31, Thompson and the Warriors agreed on a four-year/$70 million extension.
Lacob hasn't made a similar declaration regarding Green.
Yet.
If and when Draymond is courted by other NBA teams this summer, the Warriors will have 72 hours to match any deal, assuming Green signs the offer sheet.
In the meantime, Kerr is simply enjoying the Warriors' 36-6 start.
"Oh, man. I'm having a ball. This is so much fun. We've got an incredible group of guys and they are all committed to each other and to the plan. I couldn't have imagined being 36 and 6. This is crazy."