Magic forward Jeff Green, who has battled back issues recently and missed the team’s last seven games, likely won’t see the court again this season, as Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel writes. Although head coach Frank Vogel insists no final decision has been made, he acknowledges there’s a “good chance” Green’s season is over, and the veteran sounds prepared for that outcome.
“Their plan is to shut me down for the rest of the year and let the young guys play,” Green said, according to Robbins. “I want to play. I wanted to finish out the games, but I’ve got to make sure I’m right before I step out on the floor. But it was the team’s decision to shut me down. … If it was the playoffs, I could play. But it makes no sense at this point to try to come back and force the issue.”
Other lottery-bound teams like the Suns and Lakers, who both have an edge on the Magic in the race to the bottom of the standings, have shut down veteran players in recent weeks, so it makes sense that Orlando would follow suit, particularly if Green isn’t 100%. The 30-year-old also may not be a part of the club’s future plans, since he’s on an expiring contract and has had an underwhelming season with the Magic.
Having signed a one-year, $15MM deal with Orlando last summer, Green has averaged a career-low 9.2 PPG and 3.1 RPG in 2016/17. His .394 FG% and .275 3PT% also represent career worsts. The former fifth overall pick has some decent seasons on his résumé and his ability to play multiple positions will earn him another NBA contract this offseason, but he’s unlikely to come close to matching the $15MM annual salary he earned this past year.