Danny Green will reportedly sign with the Cavaliers over the Celtics
Boston was reportedly a frontrunner to sign the veteran guard he was bought out by the Rockets.
The Celtics’ pursuit of Danny Green didn’t last long.
The veteran guard will sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers once he’s bought out of his contract with the Houston Rockets, spurning the Celtics, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday.
It was initially reported that the Celtics would be among the top teams interested in Green if he were to get bought out of his contract on Friday. Earlier Sunday, it was reported that the Celtics were one of the two frontrunners to sign Green as he was finalizing a buyout with the Rockets.
Green, 35, would have brought championship experience to a Celtics team that lacks it. He’s won three NBA titles, winning with the Spurs in 2014, the Raptors in 2019, and the Lakers in 2020.
Green played a pivotal role on each of those teams with his 3-point shooting and defense. He’s a career 39.9 percent 3-point shooter, posting a career-high 45.5 3-point percentage in his championship season with the Raptors. Green’s 3-point shooting has taken a minor dip in recent seasons, though he’s still shooting at an above-average rate as he made 38 percent of his 3-pointers last season.
Of course, Boston won’t get Green now. It’s unknown why Green picked the Cavaliers over the Celtics, but Wojnarowski mentioned in his report that Cleveland “can offer Green significant opportunity to make an impact on a playoff team.” That might mean that the Cavaliers offered more playing time and a more defined role than the Celtics did.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens mentioned Friday that players on the buyout market might not be as tempted to sign with their team because of that reason, saying, “I think we’re really deep right now and we already have a bunch of guys that are giving up for one cause.”
Boston still has an open roster spot and it can offer buyout players $3.23 million as part of the disabled player exception it received following Danilo Gallinari’s torn ACL injury in September. That would likely be more than what most teams would have to offer, which would be the veteran minimum.
Green is the second notable wing player to sign a deal after being bought out. Former Magic guard Terrence Ross will reportedly sign a deal with the Phoenix Suns. Guard/forward Will Barton could be the next player the Celtics turn their eyes to on the buyout market. Barton and the Wizards are reportedly working on a buyout.
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