Breaking: Former Arizona guard committed to the Hornets.
Josh Green was competing in the NBA Finals two weeks ago. He is currently packing his bags to play for one of the poorest teams in the league.
In a three-way deal that sent Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, the Charlotte Hornets acquired the 23-year-old guard, who previously played for the Arizona Wildcats. As part of the sign-and-trade agreement, the Golden State Warriors will acquire two second-round draft picks.
The 6-foot-5 wing Green is starting his fifth NBA season. He averaged 8.2 points and a career-high 2.3 assists per game in the previous campaign. Not including their trip to the NBA Finals, Green appeared in 57 games with the Mavericks.
He is joining a Hornets squad that finished the previous season with the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference. In the Hornets backcourt, Green will be partnered with Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball. Next year, Green is expected to make $12.6 million.
During his time at Arizona in 2019–20, the Australian-born player averaged 12.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
As Australian playmakers prepare for significant minutes, Josh Green is the most recent Australian to join the NBA.
As part of an NBA transaction involving multiple teams that would send superstar Klay Thompson to Dallas, Josh Green is scheduled to relocate to Charlotte.
The four-time NBA champion guard’s move to the Mavericks, the team that finished second, is apparently the focal point of a multi-team deal that includes the Australian wing.
The Mavericks selected Green at pick No. 18 in the 2020 NBA Draft. In October of last year, Green agreed to a three-year rookie contract extension with Dallas.
Surrounded by superstars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in his fourth season, the two-way threat averaged a career-high 26 minutes per game.
But the Mavericks front office made significant decisions that will result in Green leaving the team after a 4-1 NBA Finals loss to Boston.
With 21 wins and 61 defeats, the Hornets finished third-last in the East, but Green still has room to develop into a vital player with guard LaMelo Ball.
According to ESPN, the Hornets would exchange two second-round picks for the 23-year-old Green with the Mavericks as part of the transaction; one of those picks may wind up at Golden State.
Promotion
As an unrestricted free agent this summer, Thompson—a seasoned shooting guard who has played for the Warriors for all 13 of his NBA career—reportedly attracted interest from the Nuggets, Magic, Lakers, Clippers, and 76ers.
Green is an intense and powerful defensive player; his work off the ball is what really stands out, even though he isn’t a particularly good scorer. He is most effective when driving to the hoop and is a competent three-point shooter.
Green will play in the Boomers’ opening pre-Olympic exhibition match on Tuesday night in Melbourne against China.
His trade comes after that of fellow Australians Josh Giddey (from Oklahoma City to Chicago) and Dyson Daniels (from New Orleans to Atlanta), who will both see an increase in playing time as a result of their respective movements.
During the 2023–24 regular season, Giddey started for Oklahoma and finished with some impressive stats, including several triple-doubles.
Nevertheless, the young Australian was benched after making minimal contributions to the Thunder’s postseason run.
In the most recent NBA season, Dyson Daniels, who was selected with the eighth overall choice in the 2022 draft, averaged 22 minutes.
With Dejounte Murray out of the starting lineup, he will now partner with Trae Young in the Hawks backcourt.
