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Toronto Raptors guard Danny Green just won his second NBA championship and is now a free agent. He's expected to receive interest from a lot of teams because not only is he an excellent 3-point shooter (45 percent during the regular season), especially when the games matter the most, but he's also someone with a great basketball IQ.
He averaged 10.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists last season, so he will definitely be an asset to whatever team he plays for next season. He's already expressed interest in returning to the Raptors, but admitted that the decision of long-time teammate Kawhi Leonard will definitely impact his.
So let's say Leonard decides to leave the Raptors in free agency and Green decides that it's time to take his talents somewhere else. Where could he possibly end up?
Let's look at some of his options.
Los Angeles Clippers
If Leonard ends up with the Clippers, then Green could end up there as well. They have been teammates since 2011, and they can keep that streak going.
The Clippers are planning to build a superteam once free agency opens Sunday. They have enough cap space to sign two players to max deals, so it is possible that if Leonard ends up there, they will be gunning for another superstar.
But whether or not they land another top-tier free agent, the Clippers will definitely need to surround Kawhi with a decent supporting cast. That team already has a core that helped them make the playoffs last season, adding someone like Green to their roster will definitely make things better.
But if the Clippers fail to acquire Leonard, they will still go all-in in free agency. Guys like Jimmy Butler and Kyrie Irving are still great options. So no matter who they get, they will still need guys like Green to help them win a championship.
Los Angeles Lakers
Green was recently asked about the idea of the Lakers having interest in signing him, and his response was ‘that would be interesting.'
At this point, who wouldn't be interested in joining the Purple and Gold? They have LeBron James, they recently acquired Anthony Davis while being able to keep rising star Kyle Kuzma, and they are poised to land another star next week. The Lakers will reportedly target Leonard as well, but it is unlikely that he will join a team with two superstars already.
So let's say the Lakers end up getting someone like D'Angelo Russell or Kemba Walker. All they need to do now is to surround that team with shooters. That's where Green comes in. He will definitely help space the floor for Bron, AD, Kuz, and whoever they land next week. He will get plenty of open shots and if he can knock them down consistently, the Lakers will be a nightmare for most teams.
The only problem here is that if the Lakers indeed land that third star, they will have to convince some players to take a pay cut for a chance to win a championship in Los Angeles. Will Green be interested in doing that at this stage of his career? Probably not.
Dallas Mavericks
A team that has the potential to be really good next season, the Mavericks are hoping that Rookie of the Year winner Luka Doncic and the returning Kristaps Porzingis will be a great fit for each other. Both guys are young but they also have an unlimited upside. If Porzingis will be as good as he is before his ACL injury, a playoff berth for the Mavs is likely.
But just like any young team, they still need veterans with experience to help them weather the storm especially during pressure-packed situations in the postseason. Adding someone like Green will definitely check that box, as he's been in the playoffs for most of his career.
The Mavs are probably one of the few teams that will be willing to pay Green the money that he deserves. Yes, the championship might not be a possibility for the Mavs next season, but if both Luka and Kristaps keep on improving, the Larry O'Brien trophy might return to Dallas sooner than expected, and Green could win his third title.
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Green is about to reach the end of his career, and at this point, he's already cemented his legacy as a key player in two championship teams. Money will definitely be one of his motivations next week, but do not be surprised if chooses to take the veteran's minimum for the chance to win more titles.
