With speculation Boston might try to reinforce its wing rotation abounding, adding veteran swingman Jeff Green makes no sense on this rookie-heavy version of the Celtics.
Been there, done that, practically wrote the program for it.
With chatter arising from respected basketball minds that the Boston Celtics might be on the hunt to add a wing to their rotation instead of the popular assumption the team needs a center, a familiar face has re-emerged as an option.
Cut by the Utah Jazz, former Celtic forward Jeff Green has cleared waivers, and can be signed by any team with a roster spot available to be filled, likely for the veteran’s minimum.
He’s plays the wing, could provide depth and veteran leadership without expecting a big role, and could provide the wing depth former Memphis Grizzlies executive John Hollinger had been advocating for without giving up assets — right?
Not exactly.
Firstly, Hollinger was not referring to the idea that Boston needs wing depth just to have it. They have among the most depth in that regard as any team in the league, with as many as nine players who spend time in such a role.
The issue is, as Hollinger notes, that the drop-off after Boston’s starting wings is pronounced in a system that depends on wings as much for offense as defense, which could spell postseason trouble if someone crucial turns an ankle.
Jeff Green is not the guy to solve this problem.
Sure, he provided quality minutes for the Cleveland Cavaliers the season prior to last as they made a deep run to the NBA Finals, and was solid for the Washington Wizards in 2018-19.
This season however, it seems Father Time has been creeping into the 33-year-old’s game, with career-worst numbers popping up amid a general decline that ultimately sent the Georgetown product packing to make room for a two-way player to be added to Utah’s roster.
Green is shooting the worst field goal percentage of his career at .385 overall, mostly because he’s shooting a high volume of three-pointers despite hitting well under league average at 32.7 %.
Add career lows in rebounding (2.7), assists (0.7), steals (.04), and scoring (7.8 points) per game, and one is forced to ask the question the Jazz did:
Does it make sense to have Jeff Green on your roster over a young prospect?
There are undoubtedly teams out there who could use the Maryland native’s services. But is it worth taking away developmental minutes from the Romeo Langfords and Grant Williamses of the rotation to add a player like Green?
He’s arguably a worse defender than anyone on the Celtics, and offers little on the other side of the ball to make up for it. The best argument he has going for him is that he makes few mistakes to go with his age-induced mediocrity.
This isn’t an attempt to slander Green in any way; he’s still a valuable player for a team with a rotation that could use a veteran able to play significant minutes when called on.
But with seven rookies and nine wings already on the roster, cutting a young prospect not much worse than Green is now with potential to grow into a better player is simply not what the Celtics need.
Even if you don’t subscribe to Hollinger’s way of looking at things.
