2017 NBA free agency grades: Cavaliers to sign Jeff Green
The Cleveland Cavaliers and forward Jeff Green have agreed to a one-year minimum salary deal. Green boosts the athleticism and perimeter depth of the Cavaliers.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Cleveland Cavaliers and forward Jeff Green have agreed to a one-year contract. The contract is reportedly for the veteran’s minimum and is a low-risk signing for the Cavs.
One of the main areas that the Cavaliers needed to address this offseason was perimeter depth. Green definitely boosts the depth of the team as well as their athleticism. He is also an above-average wing defender and possesses excellent length at his position.
The 2017 NBA Finals exposed a large talent gap between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs came away knowing that perimeter depth, defense and bench scoring were top priorities in the offseason. Becoming more athletic was another area Cleveland needed to improve in order to bridge the gap.
Since leaving the Boston Celtics, Jeff Green has seen his minutes per game and production drop significantly. In 33 games for Boston during the 2015 season, Green averaged 17.6 points per game. He was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies during that same season.
The Grizzlies’ style of play and his role were drastically different than in Boston. A reunion with Doc Rivers and a fresh start with the Los Angeles Clippers only resulted in less minutes and points. Now, Jeff Green is coming off the worst statistical year of his career playing for the Orlando Magic.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are hoping that Green can regain his confidence and return to form. He has three-point range, a sufficient midrange jumper, and explosive finishing ability at the rim. He is exactly the type of player that Cleveland needed to sign this offseason. They would like to see Jeff Green get aggressive on the offensive end and showcase his skills.
Jeff Green is an above-average wing defender. Throughout his career he has been tasked with guarding players such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony. Green will very likely be coming off the bench though, and not required to guard players of their caliber on a consistent basis. He is also rebounds fairly well for his position, which is another area where the Cavaliers needed help.
A couple of areas that Jeff Green needs to improve on are his assists and turnovers. Green has never averaged more than two assists a game in his career, and while he has managed to cut down on his turnovers during the course of his career, he still owns a career 1:1 assist-turnover ratio. He will need to improve on both his raw numbers and that ratio this year.
While Green may not be the player that he was a few years ago, the strengths of his game will make for a smooth transition with the Cavaliers. They will ask Green to provide scoring and perimeter defense off the bench. Green also brings playoff experience as both a starter and a second unit player. That experience will help throughout the season, but particularly in the playoffs.
Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far
Overall, the Cleveland Cavaliers were able to address some major needs by signing Jeff Green. The one-year length of the deal and the veteran’s minimum salary make this a low-risk transaction for the Cavaliers. They are hoping that Green can regain some of the form that saw him average 20.3 points a game in the 2013 playoffs. If so, he could turn out to be an excellent addition for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Grade: A-