Target #5: Javonte Green
Along with their ability to execute a trade, the Kings still have their Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception (NMLE), Bi-Annual Exception (BAE), and veteran minimums available to them to help bolster their roster.
Sacramento Offseason with DeMar DeRozan
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 7, 2024
The Kings are $5.1M below the tax and will avoid the threshold once they sign 2 veteran minimum players. pic.twitter.com/7Qd1mnYO0g
And while there are a handful of names they could target with their remaining salary cap gadgets, one name that I am particularly intrigued by is Javonte Green.
Yes, he spent the majority of the season in the G-League on the Santa Cruz Warriors before finishing the season with the decimated Bulls (in total, he appeared in nine NBA games). But what Green flashed during that time was incredibly promising.
Javonte Green earned an #NBACallUp to the @chicagobulls and WENT OFF! 🫡
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) June 28, 2024
The former @gleaguewarriors swingman averaged 12.2 PPG and 7.4 RPG on 60% FG in nine NBA games this year. He dropped a career-high 25 PTS on the Knicks followed by 24 PTS vs. the Wizards a week later. pic.twitter.com/yeDPOtM6nl
During his short stint, Green was in the 85th percentile in steal rate, the 86th percentile in block rate (positional rim protection), and the 91st percentile in defensive rebounding percentage (physicality). He also served as a credible spacer (37% from three) – albeit on lower volume (36th percentile).
If the Kings could get Green on a veteran minimum, he would be a great defense-first energy wing/forward to add to their bench.