The Cleveland Cavaliers have had a relatively quiet offseason, but they did manage to add a seasoned veteran in forward Jeff Green.
Late Friday evening the Cleveland Cavaliers signed their third player of the offseason, bringing in veteran swingman Jeff Green on a one-year, $2.3 million deal.
Green’s addition to the Cavaliers will bolster their bench, which was unreliable at times throughout the postseason. His presence on the roster will also provide LeBron with a backup who has experience but still has plenty left to offer.
When he was drafted fifth overall in 2007, Green was filled with potential, and at times showed why he was a top-five pick. Overall though Green’s stint in the NBA has been quite a rollercoaster ride with more downs than ups.
Green became a vital role player on those Boston Celtics teams earlier this decade and thrived around star players such as Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.
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After the Celtics traded Green in 2015, his play took a steep decline, averaging no more than 13 points per game after leaving Beantown. His defense went from solid to suspect and his jump shot became inconsistent.
Even with all that going against him Green’s decline should not be too alarming and here is why.
In the past, we have seen LeBron James get the most out of his teammates and the same should be expected with Green when he teams up with the King next season.
Another reason why the Green signing bodes well for the Cavaliers is that he will not be asked to carry such a heavy load as in years past.
With Memphis, Los Angeles and Orlando Green was expected to be a focal point of the team, but with Cleveland, he will be asked to be a role player on a championship-caliber team. That is a role in which Green has not been in quite some time, and should thrive in, given the right opportunity.
Green could just never totally piece everything together in his career. But as mentioned above, having a role on an elite-level team changes players and this could very well be the shot in the arm he needs to revitalize his career.
On the surface, Green has the athleticism and the raw physical tools to be a great fit on the Cavaliers. After all, he is 6’9″, 235 pounds and can handle the ball like a guard at times but can also go in the paint and score if need be.
What you can potentially get from Green are games like the one below. While it is from 4+ years ago, he is only 30-years-old and still possesses athleticism that many players his size do not have.
Green’s ability to attack the rim and get to the line is something LeBron will enjoy about his new teammate. When James drives to the rim, he will attract multiple defenders as usual and with his slashing and finishing skill set, Green could find himself on the receiving end of many easy baskets.
While he has shown inconsistency in his long ball, Green is a career 33 percent shooter from beyond the arc and is proficient from the short corner. Plus coming to a team that is filled with so many great shooters will only motivate Green to work on his craft more and make his three-point shot a more consistent part of his game.
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Green, who has been knocked for his lack of defense in the past will quickly learn that if he wants to see the floor, he will need to step up on defense. With his size, Green has the ability to guard multiple positions on the court. Also with LeBron being an excellent motivator, it is easy to Green turning things around and once again becoming an exceptional wing defender.
With limited flexibility on what they could do in the offseason, the signing of Green is a low-risk, high reward move. He is a high-character guy who has not has any off-the-court issues and overcame a severe heart condition to get to where he is today. That alone speaks volumes.
At best Green will be a key link to a championship team, excelling in his new role. At worst Green will have little impact on the team and could find himself at the end of the bench if he does not have a good start to the season.
Hopefully with a new sense of confidence and playing alongside an all-time great player in LeBron turns Green’s career around. He has a lot of hard work in front of him, but to come to Cleveland on a veteran minimum contract after making $15 million last season shows how much he is willing to sacrifice to try and win a ring.
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The question marks and doubters will still be there throughout the season, but give the signing a chance to play itself out. If all goes well it could very well become the steal of the offseason if Green’s new role on the bench guides the Cavaliers to a championship next June. Only time will tell.