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If you're a North Carolina basketball fan, you've likely seen the Danny Green interview in Inside Carolina and winced.

Something seemed a little strange back in late April when UNC issued a news release that Green was entering the NBA draft, a day after the school had issued a release saying Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington were entering the draft. And looking back on it, you definitely could have read some things into Roy Williams' statement in the Green release:

"Danny and his father contacted me in the last 24 hours and indicated they wished to test the waters and enter Danny in the draft. We have done the necessary paperwork to do that."

Now compare that to the lengthy quote Roy issued the day before about Tyler Hansbrough, Lawson and Ellington:

"I am pleased and most supportive of the decisions made by all three young

people. I want what is best for each individual, and each individual player is different and has different factors to consider. It was a very exhausting time of research spent talking to the NBA people. I contacted more than half the teams in the NBA, speaking to various player personnel representatives including a number of general managers. In fact, I contacted more teams this year than I've ever done before to provide them with the best information possible on their draft status. We gave that information over to Tyler, Ty, Wayne and their families and allowed them to make the decision.

"We will continue to help Ty and Wayne with the draft process and give them all the support they need in making any future decisions related to staying in the draft or returning to Carolina."

Just a tad different, wouldn't you say?

Given Green's recent interview, we don't even have to read between the lines. Danny Green didn't sugarcoat it for Inside Carolina: Roy Williams didn't think it was a good idea for Green to enter the June 26 draft, but Green did it anyway.

"I called him and told him about doing it, but he didn't think it was for my best interests. … He gave me his advice, but I wanted to do it anyway," Green said.

And Green also said he was overlooked during the whole predraft process at Carolina. Consider his response to this question: Had he talked to Williams about it?

"You'd have to talk to him," Green said. "I mean, I called him and talked to him about it, but when it came down to it, it was the 'Big Three.' So they had their own meeting, and he thought I wasn't thinking about doing it."

(You can see why Danny Green has always been a media favorite. He's pretty much incapable of guile. Ask him what he thinks, and he tells you.)

This is where things start to get interesting for UNC — as if they aren't already. Green said his goal is to get the guaranteed contract that goes along with being a first-round NBA pick. If not, then returning to school would be an "option." Not a definite, mind you.

It certainly seems as though Green would really, really like to turn pro, but will return to Chapel Hill if things really go south for him.

Returning might no longer be a simple matter, either. It looks as if there will have to be at least some bridge-building between Green and Roy. Ignoring the coach's advice is one thing. Implying your coach overlooked you in favor of your teammates is another.

That's not to say Danny Green can never go home again. Let's face it, if he doesn't stay in the draft, he'll need Carolina. And Carolina will need him, particularly if Lawson and/or Ellington stay in the draft. Someone has to shoot 3-pointers to keep Hansbrough from being triple-teamed. Green and Roy likely will get back on the same page.

Still, it sheds some interesting light on the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes on every year in major college basketball programs in the spring.

As much as fans — and writers — like to think that the players' primary goal is to get a national title ring and to give glory to the dear old school, it usually isn't. The goal is the NBA. And even though coaches usually publicly support their players when they declare for the draft, they know they don't get contract extensions based on how many former players are in the league.

They get paid to win.

Those conflicting goals are always there, behind the scenes. Sometimes, when a guy as blunt as Danny Green comes along, the rest of us are let in on the debate.

Contact Jim Young at 373-7016 or jim.young@news-record.com