Cavs, Danny Green nearing reunion following his buyout with Rockets

The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t end up pulling the trigger on a deadline trade, and were one of only three teams to not do so, but they were long rumored to be seeking veteran wing help.

With that having been the case, it was not surprising that they were a club that was among those reportedly displaying “great interest” in veteran wing Danny Green, should Green become a player set to be on the buyout market or waived.

Following that, earlier this afternoon, it was reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN that the Cavaliers and Green were “nearing an agreement” on him being signed by the Wine and Gold following his buyout from the Houston Rockets. Wojnarowski soon after reported how the details will be worked out financially following the deal being finalized.

That news came after Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported how Green and the Rockets came to an agreement on a buyout for him.

Green, who began his NBA career with the Cavs, should provide them with a valuable leadership presence, and he can help their perimeter shooting efforts.

Green was recently moved by the Memphis Grizzlies at the trade deadline this week via three-team deal, and it seemed to be a matter of time before he’d be either waived or bought out, with Houston rebuilding. Green has only played in three games this season with him having to recover from a torn ACL; he was traded to Memphis last offseason after being dealt there by the Philadelphia 76ers.

It’s assuredly going to take time for the 35-year-old wing to establish a rhythm with Cleveland, and time will tell as to how much run he receives as he gets back. But for the Cavaliers, this was a sensible signing, clearly; the details involving his addition are not known just yet, as an aside.

This will be a reunion between Green and the Cavaliers, too, for what it’s worth. Green first began in the NBA with the Cavaliers, as he played sparingly in 20 games as a rookie with Cleveland back in 2009-10, before he was waived before the following season.

He would benefit from real developmental time with the San Antonio Spurs for several seasons from there, and has been able to make an impact in a bunch of postseason runs throughout his career. Cavs fans have often expressed an affinity for Green’s skill set from afar, given his initial relationship with the team.

Regardless, it was a decent move by Koby Altman and the Wine and Gold to bring in a veteran wing in Green, who has had tons of playoff experience, and over his 14-year-career, he’s connected on 39.9 percent of his three-point attempts.

He could bring a spacing boost in his minutes for the Cavs, and though it will take some time, he could be a reliable catch-and-shoot target for Cleveland to look to, and one would hope in the playoffs, he could still be useful.

Whether it’d be corner or wing spot-ups from ball movement, or still some movement looks, Green has carved out an impressive track record as a knockdown shooter, which could make him a seamless fit in a number of Cavs lineups, provided he can stay healthy and he can establish a rhythm in a new situation. With his style, however, it’s realistic for fans and the Cavaliers to be optimistic about this Green signing in that regard.

Green is a three-time NBA champion as well with the San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers, and he should surely help young players such as Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Isaac Okoro behind the scenes, too. The greatest teacher is experience, and Green has a boatload of that, including in the postseason.

This was a low-risk, and potentially high-reward move by the Cavaliers, who are a team really beginning to hit their stride, as winners of six straight. Hopefully in time, the veteran wing in Green can give the still largely young Cavs a boost on and off the floor.