The problems started mounting even before his summer began as several costly, poorly placed lunges in the directions of opponents earned him a suspension in the fifth game of the Finals, the championship round of the NBA. At that time in the series, Green and the Warriors had a foot on the neck of the Cleveland Cavaliers, with the unquestionable assurance of a 3-1 series lead. Before they lost, no team had ever relinquished hold of such a commanding advantage in the Finals.

But Green was suspended for game five after taking a swipe below the belt of Lebron James. The Warriors lost comprehensively without Green, the Cavaliers victoriously returned for their game six homecoming and the scales completely tilted in favor of a city that had wallowed in athletic failure for over 50 years. 

But while Green's suspension was a small storyline in the tragic collapse and even more an indication of lingering immaturity and irrationality, it was a mistake. It was a bad mistake but nothing more. And it was a mistake that Green recompensed his team for with one of the best game seven performances of all time.

Even if he hadn't made up for it though, the fearless, upwards shot at The King was part of the same bite that first brought him recognition.

It was what turned him from an unheralded Saginaw swingman to a nationally recognized college superstar and graduate. It was what allowed the 35th pick in the draft to surmount his doubters and become a bonafide MVP candidate. It was why he was the best irritator in the NBA.

And while it was too far and too frequent, it was inextricably a tenet of his style, a feistiness that, if removed, could extract his passion and drive. It was him.

The real problems began in July, when reports surfaced about Green's arrest outside of Conrad's Grill. Green and Jermaine Edmondson, a former MSU football player, were involved in a skirmish after having exchanged words the night before. But while the adversarial escalation might have been shared, the first and only strike was thrown by Green, allegedly. 

TMZ acquired a video of the arrest, and Green was reprimanded.

And to the leak. Well, that's what Green initially reported, anyways.

Hacked..... Can't win right now

— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) July 31, 2016

Of course it was no hack, though. Green had intended to send the Snapchat of his genitalia to one person instead of accidentally, mindlessly posting it to "My Story," a 24-hour display seeable and rewatchable to any of his followers. 

Green was quickly alerted to his misplacement and tried to rectify it, but the damage had been done. Green was all over the internet for, once again, all the wrong reasons.

Sigh. 

What's difficult is that there's a common thread in all three of these instances. There was a moment, just a moment when Green hit the power switch in his brain.

via GIPHY

Nothing unpreventable but nothing unfathomably stupid, Green's summer was just the culmination of idiotic indiscretion and moronic mishap. And it was just one after another.

A suspension, a slap and a Snap, and the 13th highest jersey seller became public enemy no. 1. 

What I'm not saying is that Green's actions are at all unforgivable. What I'm not saying is that he's a bad person. 

What I am saying is that Green should be MSU's David and Saginaw's Cinderella, defying expectations and loyally defending his heartland. And he's done that much. 

He quantified his appreciation for Michigan State, donating the largest single-time sum in athletics history. He paraded the Larry O'Brien trophy through a struggling, blighted city that was forgotten and made sure that everyone learned where he grew up. 

The NBA champion and Defensive Player of the Year runner-up was just a kid from Saginaw. Just a Spartan Dawg from the junkyard who was proud of it. Just the 35th pick. And everyone loved him for the passion that came with it.

And this summer was ideally positioned for a rehashing of the dream-come-true. 

Green was set to win another championship, likely winning the Finals MVP. Then, he squandered that with a brash ball-busting raising of the arm. 

Green was set to restore his good-guy image, returning to the four-year college that he graduated from in his free time, far exceeding his basketball obligations. Then, he hit a football player in plain sight of police.

Green was set to become one of few Michigan State basketball players and athletes to represent his country in the Olympics. Then, he publicly released a photo of his penis, turning a dream to a nightmare.

With just three less mistakes, Draymond Green would be better primed for the top likability slot than just about any basketball player save for Steph Curry. Three mistakes later, and the jokes are still coming.

But what can you do? It's in the past. 

Green now must go out, and do what he has done on the court: using all of the disparaging press to only ignite his competitive fire. Just as Kobe Bryant "persevered" through nebulous negative neigh-sayers following his dismissed rape trial, Green must do the same. 

Notability should be left on the court. Off of it, simple common sense will suffice.

As Green learned, "we're all just one click away." One click, one hit, one dismissal and a reputation is supplanted by an unjust and unrepresentative small sample. Draymond Green is a good guy who makes mistakes, just like everyone else. But those mistakes can no longer be so visible, as three mistakes later, the Spartan Dawg is on a short leash.

Hopefully, this summer serves as a lesson to Green: going no filter is only good in cases of perfection. For the rest of us, nothing wrong with a positive tint.