FEBRUARY 20: The Pelicans have officially waived Green, according to a release from the team.
FEBRUARY 19: Javonte Green has reached a buyout agreement with the Pelicans and plans to sign with the Cavaliers once he clears waivers, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
The 31-year-old swingman has appeared in 50 games this season, making 18 starts and averaging 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in 21.8 minutes per night. He’s shooting 35.2% from three-point range and will give Cleveland another veteran wing off the bench for its upcoming playoff run.
The Cavs had a pair of open roster spots after sending two players to Atlanta to acquire De’Andre Hunter at the trade deadline. The team faced a February 20 deadline to get its roster back up to 14 players, which it will accomplish when a 10-day contract with G League forward Nae’Qwan Tomlin is finalized. One more opening will remain, so another move won’t be necessary to add Green, assuming he’s not claimed by another team.
Green is making $2.4MM on the one-year deal he signed with New Orleans last summer. If he gives up any money in the buyout, it will likely be roughly what he’ll earn in Cleveland for the rest of the season on a veteran’s minimum contract.
The Cavaliers will remain below the tax line after adding Green, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link).
The Pelicans will be down to 13 players once the move is official, and they’ll have two weeks to fill at least one roster opening. It will likely happen by giving a standard contract to two-way guard Brandon Boston, who has been part of the rotation for most of the season.
Still gotta try hide Garland and Mitchell defensively. That’s what Hunter and Green moves are about. The cavs are only delaying the inevitable, which is trading Garland if Cavs can’t get it done.
@NRG
This year has proven they can work together. The bigger issues they have were addressed in bringing in Hunter. They needed setting guys to try and stifle the Tatum’s and Brown’s of the nba. This guy should help, too, although Ben Simmons would’ve been more ideal.
Good regular season team until proven otherwise.
You used be able to do this. You shouldn’t be able to do this among other things. Now you can do anything in Silver’s NBA
Not be able to do this*
Buy outs have been a thing forever
Javonte Green knows the Celtics, played for the Celtics. He moved, cut to the basket, got an offensive rebound. He fit in well. He’ll fit in with the Cavs too as that’s their game. So good move by the Cavs, with a kicker, maybe meeting the Celts in the Playoffs.
Why did the Pelicans let him go?? This team seems to make all the wrong decisions
He’ll be 32 yrs old at the start of next season. Journeyman.
If we being real he deserved at least a second. Dude a wreck as a 9th man. Pelicans just don’t care bout a second and probably wanted to do right by him tbh
As a celtics fan this bums me out. Javonte can play.
Agreed. Green plays much bigger than the 6’5” he is listed at. Green is a warrior.
I think this is a strong fit for Cleveland, and their roster is really good…I’m curious to see how they handle their rotations in certain matchups, b/c that will be key for them
Prob drops Javonte’s value quite a bit.