NBA contenders expected to show free agency interest in Jeff Green

The Rockets signed Green to a minimum contract in February, but it remains to be seen if they can keep him for that amount in free agency.

Coming off a strong performance in the 2020 NBA playoffs, Houston Rockets forward Jeff Green appears likely to receive interest from other title contenders in the upcoming free agency period.

In his latest column, Shams Charania of The Athletic writes:

Forward Jeff Green helped himself entering free agency this offseason — averaging 11.6 points, five rebounds, and 42.6 percent 3-point shooting in 12 playoff games for the Rockets. Green is now expected to receive interest from a slew of contending teams.

From Houston’s perspective, the big question is whether that “interest” is at the league’s minimum salary level, or if any would go beyond that. Free agency is expected to begin in late November or early December.

Before the Rockets signed Green to a one-year minimum contract in late February, the 6-foot-8 big man was left unsigned by any team for almost two months. What remains to be seen is whether Green’s playoff performance turned enough heads to lift his value from being unsigned for weeks to potentially getting offers larger than the minimum.

At 34 years old, any contract offer to Green will likely be of the short-term variety. What’s at issue for the Rockets and other contenders — nearly all of whom are over the league’s salary cap — is the price point.

While the Rockets do have various salary cap exceptions that could be used to give Green additional money, those exceptions are their primary means of bringing in external upgrades from other teams.

Midway through the 2018-19 season, the Rockets signed veteran guard Austin Rivers to a contract and convinced him to stay for another minimum deal in the 2019 offseason. They could use a similar template with Green in 2020, but his valuation by other teams (presumably contenders, given his age) might throw a wrench into that plan.

Another issue is who Houston hires as its next head coach, and how Green might fit into his system. Outgoing coach Mike D’Antoni frequently used Green in smaller lineups as a versatile center with ball-handling and passing skills, but it’s not yet known how the new coach will opt to play. If all offers are at the minimum, how Green views his role in each system could determine whether he re-signs or heads elsewhere.

Green recently hired a new agent heading into his free agency.

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