The Cleveland Cavaliers just got stronger, adding veteran wing Javonte Green to their already impressive roster. The announcement came Sunday, just before their matchup with Memphis.
Green, who’s 31, had just wrapped up a buyout deal with the New Orleans Pelicans and cleared waivers before joining the Eastern Conference leaders.
The Cavs have been on fire this season, sitting pretty at the top with a stunning 46-10 record. They’d been eyeing Green since last Wednesday, and it’s easy to see why.
“I just felt like here was the best fit for me,” Green told reporters, explaining his decision to join Cleveland’s winning culture.
This isn’t Cleveland’s only big move lately. They recently landed De’Andre Hunter from Atlanta in a deal that sent away Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, and a bunch of draft picks.
What makes Green such a great pickup? Just ask his new coach, Kenny Atkinson, who worked with him back in Golden State.
“I always had him in the back of my mind,” Atkinson said. “If he ever comes available, he’s a guy that could help us and give us great insurance.”
Green’s been putting up decent numbers this season, averaging 5.8 points in 50 games with the Pelicans. But it’s his defensive skills that really shine.
“He’s a possession getter,” Atkinson explained. “He’s a steals guy, he rebounds – probably 90th and above percentile for wings.”
The veteran player isn’t coming to fix anything broken – Cleveland’s already dominating. Instead, he’s bringing extra energy and toughness to an already strong team.
“It’s nothing that they’re missing or anything – just something that my game brings,” Green said confidently.
For a team with championship dreams, adding another defensive specialist who can guard the league’s top wings might be exactly what they need for a deep playoff run.
