Toronto Raptors Player Previews: ‘Glue-Guy’ Danny Green “excited” for Toronto chapter

Danny Green came to the Toronto Raptors in the Kawhi-Demar summer blockbuster. How might the 31-year-old fit into the Raptors’ 2018-19 rotation?

With so many other playmakers and skilled creators on the court, Danny Green’s role for the Toronto Raptors will be just to fill in the gaps. Sure, its cliche, but Danny Green is the quintessential glue guy.

Off the court, Danny Green is a one-of-a-kind personality who, among other things, possesses an objectively pleasant sense of humor.

Speaking at the team’s annual media-day spectacle, alongside Masai Ujiri and newly anointed national treasure, Kawhi Leonard, Green appeared genuinely surprised each time anyone directed a question his way…

"“I was wondering if I was gonna get to talk today…”"

Those were Green’s words when a reporter, after a series of Kawhi-related inquiries, finally directed a question at the NBA veteran of nine seasons. It didn’t take long to notice the kind of person, and more importantly, the kind of teammate Green is and as such, how he projects to impact the Raptors’ locker-room and in-game fortunes this season.

Keep in mind Toronto boasts a plethora young, dynamic guards who need to be given time to play and grow. The likes of Delon Wright, Fred VanVleet, Norman Powell, even Lorenzo Brown…all will be given meaningful playing time in Nick Nurse’s system. Green will get his minutes but there will be times — second night of a back-to-back — where he finds himself intentionally bumped down the pecking order.

Pinpointing exactly how and where the defensive stalwart and proven sharpshooter fits into the Raptors’ plans is tricky considering Green’s versatility and ability to start or come off the bench.

Ultimately, head coach Nick Nurse should have little trouble nailing down the ideal role for Green in what figures to be one of the league’s deeper lineups in 2018-19.