Jeff Green Free Agent Profile

Jun 12, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Jeff Green (32) shoots the ball against Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) during the first half in game five of the 2023 NBA Finals at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jack Dempsey/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Green will be a sought-after free agent this summer despite coming off perhaps the worst statistical season of his career. At 36, Green averaged 19.5 minutes and 7.8 points per game, both career lows, for the Denver Nuggets last year. However, Green was an important veteran piece on that championship-winning squad. His true value extends beyond the stat sheet. Considering he won’t require big dollars, Green will likely have many suitors to choose from.

Background

The Boston Celtics selected Green with the fifth overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. Boston then traded Green to the Seattle SuperSonics in a big deal that sent Ray Allen to the Celtics. The Georgetown product had a great rookie year, averaging 10.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 80 games. Green finished his rookie season by making the NBA ALL-Rookie First Team.

In three and a half years with the Sonics/Oklahoma City Thunder organization, Green averaged 14.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Green established himself as an important weapon by playing with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

The Thunder traded Green to the Celtics at the 2011 trade deadline. Though he agreed to a contract to return to the Celtics that offseason, the deal was famously voided after a routine physical discovered Green had a heart condition. He missed the entire 2011-12 season after heart surgery but returned the next year.

After three and a half seasons in Boston, Green bounced around the league quite a bit before spending the past two seasons in Denver. Green has consistently been a great veteran piece that provides as much value off the court as on the court. Though he started 63 of 75 games in 2021-22 with Denver, he has mostly come off the bench in his post-Celtics career. After 1,200 NBA games, including playoffs, the man they call Uncle Jeff finally won a championship.

“Man, I can’t even put it into words. This is what you live for, all the sacrifice, all the blood, sweat and tears—the countless hours.” Green told ESPN after Denver’s series winning Game 5. “For me, going through the surgery, 11 teams, adapted to every environment, this is what it was all for. All that sacrifice, it paid off.”

Jeff Green joined Scott Van Pelt on SportsCenter last night. #ProHoyas pic.twitter.com/A4k1yZj7JM

— Patrick Waring (@WaringPatrick) June 13, 2023

Strengths

Next season will be Green’s 16th. He remains a useful rotational piece and was a solid role player last year. In 56 games, he scored field goals at a 48.8 percent clip and scored double-digits in 18 games. Additionally, Green played in all 20 of Denver’s postseason games and averaged 4.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 17.2 minutes per game.

Although he has shot 30.5 percent from three in the past two seasons, he made threes at a 41.2 percent clip the year prior with the Brooklyn Nets. Perhaps a team feels its coaching staff can unlock something in Green and bring his three-point percentage back to his Brooklyn levels.

In addition to being a versatile scorer, Green can also handle many defensive assignments. Super teams in today’s NBA often struggle defensively, and Green is a guy that can pick up that slack. Green as a free agent, represents an opportunity to bring in a valuable depth piece for not a lot.

Though last year wasn’t his best overall season, he clearly still has value on the court. If Green’s role on the roster was simply to be a good locker-room guy, the Nuggets would not have played him so much in the most important games. He’s spent the past three seasons on title-contending teams (Nuggets the past two seasons and Nets in 2020-21).

Contending teams will likely continue looking at Green on the free agent market this summer, especially since he won’t cost much. His next deal is likely to be veteran minimum. Any team with a high payroll and championship aspirations can bring Green in while maintaining financial flexibility for future moves.

Weaknesses

Green will be 37 when next season begins. He’s coming off his worst year, so it’s fair to wonder how much is left in the tank. Last season, Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Bruce Brown, and Aaron Gordon all played at least 65 games. Even Michael Porter Jr. played 62 games.

The Nuggets were pretty healthy last season. If a team is impacted by injuries, is Green able to pick up the workload at this stage of his career? Denver didn’t need to find out last year. However, whichever team signs Green this summer might have to find out. How many teams want to take that risk?

Potential Fits

Denver might be the front runners for Green. Green fit the team perfectly as a veteran big that spaced the floor on a team with a shallow bench. Denver doesn’t have much money to spend, so Green’s availability at the veteran minimum seems like a no-brainer.

Furthermore, Green told Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette his desire to play for two more years and finish his career in Denver.

“I’m finishing my career here, if I can, I want to just play two more years and, if my wife lets me play three, cool. But my goal is to play two more years and be a Nugget for those two years.”

After a disappointing finish to the season, the Golden State Warriors want to reshape the roster but don’t have much to spend. The team can bring Green in for cheap, and likely has the ability to improve his three-point shooting.

The Los Angeles Lakers represent another team with big contracts looking to win a title. The Lakers seemed to finally have found the right grouping of players (and personalities) after last year’s trade deadline. Along with being inexpensive, Green won’t disrupt the chemistry and will be a floor spacer and good defender that LA needs.

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