The Pistons made a move to fill out their roster by signing free agent Javonte Green to a one-year deal. Green is a 6-foot-4, 205lbs defensive-minded wing who is entering his 7th season and split his time last year between the Pelicans and Cavaliers.
Green is a hard-nosed defender and has survived in the NBA as long as he has due to his work in the less glamorous parts of the game. As a former undrafted and overseas player, he always competes hard on both sides of the ball and is known for his athletic finishes on offense as well.
Green won’t expect to see many minutes for the Pistons and will be more of an emergency option when other players are in foul trouble or dealing with injuries. After all, he's bounced around the league for a reason. Think of him as a wing version of Paul Reed, a defensively oriented veteran with the occasional scoring chops who’s always ready to fill in minutes when needed.
Green has shown flashes that can help the Pistons in the long run
The Pistons may still be hoping that Green can return to showing some flashes of the improvement he had displayed last year in New Orleans and on the Chicago Bulls for the previous four seasons before that. In Green’s time with the Pelicans last year, he averaged 35 percent from three on two attempts per game. His best shooting season came in 2022-23 when he shot 37 percent from three with the Bulls. These numbers are not elite by any standards for a modern wing, but they could allow him to be passable on offense while locking up on defense.
Green is also very skilled at cutting to the rim effectively, whether in transition or on backdoor cuts in the half court. He’s had some explosive finishes in his career with his remarkable athleticism and good sense of timing. These are the small skills of his game which help him stay effective despite limited offensive abilities.
Green hasn’t had a ton of team success in his career, but his journey from overseas to the G League and the NBA can help him be a good locker room presence for younger players. He’s also sure to bring his all in practice and push the Pistons’ young stars to get better. All in all, not a bad signing for the 14th spot on the roster.