Mavericks Notes: Green, Hardy, Doncic

The Mavericks have opened contract extension talks with fourth-year swingman Josh Green, according to veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein (Twitter link). As we outlined earlier this week, Green will be eligible to sign a rookie scale extension up until October 23, the day before the 2023/24 regular season tips off.

Green said in Australia earlier this week that it would be “amazing” to sign a contract that would keep him in Dallas long-term, and it appears the two sides have mutual interest in making that happen.

The 18th overall pick in the 2020 draft, Green played a modest role for the Mavs as a rookie and saw a slight uptick in playing time during his second year. But it wasn’t really until 2022/23 that he emerged as an important rotation player for the club, averaging 9.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 25.7 minutes per game across 60 contests (21 starts). He also shot an impressive 53.7% from the field, including 40.2% on three-pointers.

Here’s more on the Mavs:

• Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News (subscriber link) breaks down some of the factors that the Mavericks will have to consider as they weigh a possible extension for Green. Signing him this year would make him difficult to trade during the 2023/24 season due to the poison pill provision, and would further reduce the club’s cap flexibility in 2024 and beyond, Townsend notes.
• Within the same story, Townsend cites a Mavericks official who says that Green and/or Jaden Hardy have been the subject of virtually every trade inquiry the team has received this offseason. Dallas has been “steadfast” so far in refusing to considering moving either youngster, per Townsend, who adds that Green looks like the franchise’s small forward of the future.
• In his final installment of his player tier rankings, Seth Partnow of The Athletic places Mavericks star Luka Doncic in his “1B” tier, alongside Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid. The only players ranked higher by Partnow are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, and Nikola Jokic, who occupy the “1A” tier. As Partnow explains, concerns related to Doncic’s defense, conditioning, and ability to play off the ball alongside a second star are holding him back from joining that very top tier.