Letting go of Danny Green was a bitter part of the San Antonio Spurs' process of putting an end to the Kawhi Leonard saga. Gregg Popovich can project himself relieved over the fact that one of the strangest stretches in the Spurs franchise’s history is finally over, but he‘s certainly not feeling any happier now that Green is no longer under his watch, per Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio-Express-News.
“It was tough, because he has come such a long way,” Popovich said in the wake of Wednesday’s deal. “You know we cut him twice, and over the years he turned into Danny Green.”
Green entered the NBA in 2009 as a second-round pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers. His tenure with the Cavs would not last long, though, as he was waived by the team a year later. That would pave the way for him to join the Spurs, with whom the Green played each NBA season since the 2010-11 campaign.
As mentioned by Gregg Popovich, it is in San Antonio where Green blossomed into the player he is today. While not an All-Star caliber player, Green was a vital cog in the Spurs’ rotation and was a key contributor to the team’s championship run in 2014.
In eight seasons with the Spurs, Green gathered averages of 9.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 520 games, including 464 starts.
Traded to the Toronto Raptors along with Leonard this week, Green could one day find his way back to San Antonio. He will be a free agent by the end of the 2018-19 season.
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