Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
2025 Free Agents - Jeff Green
After starting his career as a wing, Green has transitioned to being a small-ball four in recent years, and his role went even further playing as a small-ball five at times during his last few stops in Brooklyn and Denver, although slightly less so with the Nuggets and Rockets recently. In '20-'21. Green gave the Nets some versatility in their options for a closing lineup, as Green can certainly hold his own at center against most team. During his time with the Nuggets, when the games mattered most the Nuggets stopped playing back-up centers and instead played Jeff Green and Aaron Gordon together as the bigs. Green started a majority of the games for Denver in '21-'22, filling in for the injured Michael Porter, Jr. After shooting 42% from three in '20-'21, a career high, Green has only hit 32% since then. He has reduced his midrange attempts as he has aged and replaced them with more threes, which has helped his efficiency, something he struggled with throughout his career. He has also been helped by spending more time off the ball, with a higher proportion of hit attempts being spot-up jumpers rather than unassisted baskets that he created for himself. Green is still an effective transition player, and despite being 38 years old he still has some athleticism, and will even break out a poster dunk every once in a while. His shooting numbers at the rim have been very good in recent seasons, shooting over 70% from there. Nearing age 39 as a free agent in 2025, Green's age will certainly play a factor in any free agent discussions, as I doubt he would get any long-term deals. Green was able to do the rare accomplishment of breaking out of the "minimum guy" narrative, signing non-minimum contracts late in his career after signing minimum deals previously. He could be back on a minimum contract soon, but recently being in the regular rotation for a title-winning team will certainly help him in free agency.
Summary
Green will be an unrestricted free agent with a $10.4 million cap hold and Early Bird Rights. Using his Early Bird Rights, the Rockets could offer him a starting salary of $14 million, which should be more than enough to re-sign him. Other teams will have multiple ways to sign Green as even teams without cap space could use the Non-Taxpayer MLE, Room MLE, or possibly even the Taxpayer MLE or Bi-Annual Exception to sign him. There's even a chance that Green only gets minimum offers.
Cap Considerations
Jae Crowder (1 year minimum, 2023) Joe Ingles (1 year minimum, 2024) Taj Gibson (1 year minimum, 2024)