Danny Green proved to be crucial in the Toronto Raptors regular and postseason success this year. As he enters this offseason a free agent, the question is does he commit to Toronto or does he test the waters elsewhere.
Danny Green’s future with the Toronto Raptors has yet to be ironed out. Chances are, what happens with him this offseason is dependent on whether or not Kawhi Leonard stays a Toronto Raptor.
He won’t necessarily change the entire outlook for a franchise but what he does is something a lot of teams are searching for.
What does he bring to the table?
He is the definition of a “3 and D” wing. That type of player is one the league has quickly fallen in love with. He knocked down 45-percent of his three’s last season and has shot 40-percent in his career from beyond the arc. In such a three-point heavy league, that alone is enough to pique a teams interest.
Despite the second half of “3-and-D” becoming a less important trait, Green’s defensive instincts will attract everyone. Over the past few seasons, he’s been one of the best defensive guards in the league.
You can also expect him to bring that play with consistency. Green has missed no more than 14 games in a season since 2011-12 and played in 104 of the Raptors 106 games this year.
Looking beyond his play, Green possesses an experience that not many other players can say they have. He’s been around the league for 10 seasons and has been a major contributor for two championship teams.
For eight of those ten seasons, Green was part of a historically successful organization in the San Antonio Spurs and played under one of the best coaches of all time. Not only does he have the experience of being in the league a long time but also understands what it takes to build a good culture.
So, Who Could Use Him?
As you can imagine, just about any team could use a guy like Danny Green. However, some are more desperate to gain what he provides than others.
First, there are potential contenders looking to add a capable guard to their rotation.
For example, the Los Angeles Lakers need to fill out their roster. With a championship in mind this season, they’ll likely look to surround LeBron James and Anthony Davis with at least one shooter. Not to mention their defensive issues could be at the very least aided by a guy like Green.
Then there are teams like the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers who’s status will depend on whether or not some marquee names decide to either join or stay with their squad. Both teams have the ability to sign multiple max guys but if they only secure one they too will be looking to round out the edges.
Then there are the younger teams looking to take the next step who have a whole lot of cap space.
These are the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, and Chicago Bulls of the league. Teams like these are riddled with young talent but are in the business of taking a step up from the bottom of the barrel. Since they have so many young guys on rookie contracts, they can dish out some serious contracts if they really want to.
More than what Green brings to the court, these teams will be interested in how he can help develop the future of their franchises.
Well, what type of money can he expect to get?
That probably depends on how many years he’s looking for and whether or not winning will be a deciding factor.
Chances are, this offseason will be the last shot Green will have at a long-term deal. He’s on the wrong side of 30 and, because of the copious amount of playoff games, he’s played a lot of minutes over his career.
If he decides to go for length, a four-year deal can probably get him an AAV of somewhere between $10 and $12 million. If he opts for a shorter contract, say, one or two years, he can likely fetch more than that $12 million per.
If winning isn’t on Green’s mind, he may find more money as the younger, rebuilding teams will have more money to spend. However, if going to a contender is a priority, a slight pay cut may be in order as the better teams will likely be carrying a hefty bill already.
Whether he’s leaning towards leaving or staying with the Raptors, teams around the league are surely preparing to come knock on his door.