Warriors to Add JaMychal Green After Buyout with Thunder
The Warriors are adding some veteran depth at the forward position in the form of JaMychal Green once he finalizes a buyout with OKC. The six foot eight, thirty-two-year-old was known for his veteran presence off the bench on the Nuggets.
He averaged a solid 6-8 points in his stint there while playing anywhere from 15-20 minutes per game. Green was one of the players that stepped up when Denver suffered two key injuries in Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. But during the 2022 draft the Nuggets decided to part ways with him and traded him to the Thunder for a first-round pick. Now wanting to play for a playoff contender, he has turned to the Warriors for a spot.
The details of the contract aren’t yet known but one can assume that it might be a veteran minimum contract considering the Warriors lack of spending money this summer. Green has been around the NBA for ten years now and has always been a reliable forward that can make the right pass and knock down an open shot. Just last year with the Nuggets he shot around 49% from the field and 27% from three-point range. While the three-point percentage may be a bit low, he is more than capable of making them, as the year before he shot close to 40% while taking more shots.
He should fit right into the Warriors system as he can rebound, pass, and shoot. His free throw percentage has hovered at 70-80% his whole career so if he finds himself rolling to the rim he can convert or easily cash in two points at the line. Another interesting stat about Green is that his field goal percentage from sixteen feet to the three-point line is 69% so if he is open in the midrange area, he can knock it down with confidence.
The main question is if he will be able to defend at a high level to fill some of the gaps left in Free Agency. He is a solid defender but once he plays alongside the likes of Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins, he will be even better. A great comparison for fans would be Nemanja Bjelica’s role with the Dubs last season. A stretch four that can give you quality minutes off the bench and if Draymond or Looney are in early foul trouble, he can be subbed in to help.
Another aspect of JaMychal Green’s play is how hungry he is. Like many players around the league, he has yet to secure what matters most; an NBA Championship. Luckily for him, he is joining the defending champions who have bested the NBA world 4 times in the last 8 years. As Draymond said during the championship parade, “There’s nothing better than the look and feeling that guys get after winning it for the first time.” He, unlike most of his teammates, will want to win just as badly, if not more. And for the Dubs, this move is another great one to add a veteran piece alongside DiVincenzo in Free Agency to fill the roles that the departing players left behind.
(Photo credit: David Zalubowski / Associated Press)