One of the Pistons’ last moves in the offseason was signing veteran Javonte Green to a one-year deal. Green was signed using the veteran minimum and his contract is not fully guaranteed. He's already giving the Pistons some good minutes that make him a great value on his cheap deal.
Javonte Green is a perfect fit for the Pistons
Green’s main value for the Pistons has come on defense. He has been part of a tenacious bench mob who thrives with physicality and tough defense. Standing at a sturdy 6’5” Green is able to play multiple defensive roles and guard different positions.
His own defensive playmaking doesn't often show up on the stat sheet, but he makes life easier for guys like Ron Holland II and Isaiah Stewart. Green's ability to stay in front of perimeter ball handlers or offer weakside help are crucial to the overall Pistons defense. This strong defense also leads to a lot of fast break opportunities, which are a big help for the offense when Cade Cunningham is off the floor.
Offensively, Green has been much more limited. In his 15 minutes of action per game, he’s averaging just under five points per game and not shooting very efficiently from the field. So far, he’s got splits of 29% both from the field overall and three-point range. But his shot will likely pick up as he gets more playing time and the Pistons bench unit stabilizes with the return of some key missing guards.
Green is not a devastating isolation scorer or knock down three-point shooter, but he knows his role and plays it well. He sets hard screens to get his teammates open and confidently takes the right shots whether it’s rolling to the rim or spotting up for the occasional three. His quick decision-making keeps things flowing for the offense.
Similar to his defense, Green also offers some offensive versatility. He can sometimes be a ball handler and playmaker for his teammates, which has been a dire need with the aforementioned injuries. In many ways he’s got many of the same strengths and weaknesses as Ausar Thompson, and fills in that role off the bench.
Getting 15 quality minutes from a player signed as the 14th man on the roster is a win in itself. The Pistons have badly lagged behind other teams in recent years when it comes to getting value out of unheralded signings, whether it’s last-minute free agents or late draft picks and two-way players. Green’s play so far has reversed that trend and given Detroit the solid depth it needs to compete in the East.