Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Alumni in the NBA: Looking at a few Tar Heel free agents

By Trevor Marks

TORONTO, ON - MAY 07: Danny Green #14 of the Toronto Raptors reacts after sinking a 3 pointer during Game Five of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at Scotiabank Arena on May 7, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 07: Danny Green #14 of the Toronto Raptors reacts after sinking a 3 pointer during Game Five of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at Scotiabank Arena on May 7, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – JUNE 17: Danny Green #14 of the Toronto Raptors waves from his bus during the Toronto Raptors Victory Parade on June 17, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. The Toronto Raptors beat the Golden State Warriors 4-2 to win the 2019 NBA Finals. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JUNE 17: Danny Green #14 of the Toronto Raptors waves from his bus during the Toronto Raptors Victory Parade on June 17, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. The Toronto Raptors beat the Golden State Warriors 4-2 to win the 2019 NBA Finals. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Danny Green 

2018-19 Stats (80 GP): 10.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.6 apg on .465/.455/.841

You know what sounds better than NBA Champion Danny Green?

Two-time NBA Champion Danny Green. 

Do youknow what also sounds good? A 32-year-old Danny Green getting locked into one last high-dollar multi-year contract that pays him into his mid-30s on a championship contending roster after putting together a strong stretch of high-caliber play as a key cog on a pair of teams that ranked atop the NBA.

With a 2014 championship with the San Antonio Spurs and a 2019 championship with the Toronto Raptors now under his belt, it’s hard to ignore Danny Green’s championship pedigree and his ability to contribute to winning basketball in a meaningful way. Sturdy and strong at 6-foot-6, the former Carolina wing is a switchable defender with lightning-quick reflexes and awareness on and off of the ball, with his defense staying strong despite his aging.

And, after experiencing a shooting slump over the past three seasons, a fresh start with the Raptors — after being thrown into the trade that sent Kawhi Leonard to Toronto for DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl last summer — ended up being incredibly beneficial, with Green’s field goal percentage jumping up from 38.7 percent to 46.5 percent, and his three-point percentage jumping up from 36.3 percent to 45.5 percent.

Green went from being a below-average contributor on the offensive end — with yearly on-court offensive ratings of 99, 103, and 100 in his final three seasons as a Spur — to an elite one, boasting the 13th best real plus-minus (RPM) of 4.73 and one of the best on-court offensive ratings of 119. He was nothing short of electric as a complimentary piece within the Raptors’ high-octane offense, and he’s earned himself one last contract that pays him well. He doesn’t move as well as he used to, and it’s arguable that this season was a bit of an aberration and not indicative of what Green is capable of producing on a regular basis over the next few years, but he’s nonetheless a fine role player for a contender, and he’s earned himself a nice payday.

A return to Toronto on a multi-year deal shouldn’t be ruled out, even with the uncertainty surrounding Kawhi Leonard’s future in The North. Should he stay or go, Green will still be a priority for the Raptors, as he can still contribute in a meaningful way as they fight atop the Eastern Conference. A multi-year deal in the realm of $10-15 million dollars per year, perhaps something similar to his last contract (four years, $45 million), could be in store for Danny Green.

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