Javonte Green #4 of the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
The NBA’s midseason trade deadline, on Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. CST, is fast approaching, and contending teams seeking to add another piece are beginning to run out of time. Given the current restrictions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), one of the wings drawing interest from around the league is Javonte Green from the New Orleans Pelicans, who is currently playing on a one-year, $2.4 million contract.
Green, averaging 6.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 38 games this season, has proven to be a consistent contributor for the Pelicans on the wing. At 31, he’s focused on doing whatever it takes to impact winning basketball games, whether he’s guarding tough assignments, making plays off the ball offensively, or getting to the rim.
Green's Consistency Sparks Trade Interest
Sources around the NBA have indicated to RG that Green has established a strong reputation, as a competitive player who focuses on doing the little things to contribute to team success. It’s one of the main reasons he’s garnering trade interest from around the league.
“I’m just trying to go out there and try to win, make winning plays, play as hard as I can, and just be a professional. I want to do the things that got me here,” Green said. “I have to continue doing that.”
Despite being included in trade rumors, he’s stayed focused on playing hard and contributing to the Pelicans. As someone who signed in late August, he’s grateful to be in a position to be drawing interest for his impact.
“I'm not focused on that right now. I'm just trying to go out there and do my job,” Green emphasized. “Everything will fall into place when it needs to be. I'm just glad I'm here in this position.”
Entering the season, Green wanted to focus on doing whatever necessary to stay healthy and play as many games as possible. He's only missed five games on a Pelicans team that has been as injured as any this season after having to recover from knee surgery last season, limiting him to only nine games played.
“We’re halfway through the season, and I feel like I mostly checked all the boxes,” Green said. “My main focus this year was just trying to stay healthy, and I have been this year, and I'm just praying that I can continue to stay healthy and do all the things I need to.”
Green detailed how he learned much from the Golden State Warriors organization last year while playing for their G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors. He’s continued to apply those lessons to stay durable, even though he’s now playing in New Orleans.
“I learned so much last year being with Golden State, with that physical therapy and all that stuff,” Green said. “I learned so much from them. Just like when I have them bad days, they tell me exactly what I need to do to get over that and what to focus on to, you know, to get everything back on track.”
Embracing Dirty Work in Complementary Role
Despite being 6-foot-5, Green’s strength, tenacity, and 7-foot wingspan enable him to play multiple positions on the wing while guarding bigger players. The Pelicans have trusted Green to handle top matchups, often containing those matchups to lesser efficiency than what we’re accustomed to seeing from them.
Over the years, Green has learned that the goal is to make top players uncomfortable and take tough shots, but not to hang his head when they do manage to score. His fearless mentality has enabled him to be a pest as an on-ball defender.
“In my early years, it was kind of frustrating because that was the only job I had, and of course, they're superstars, so they’re still going to score the basket at times,” Green explained. “I just try to make them uncomfortable because they get paid the big bucks. They’re the best in the world for a reason, and you aren’t going to shut down anybody. I'm just trying to make everything hard for them.”
On any contender, it’s important to have floor spacers who stay engaged and are ready to make plays despite there being strings of possessions where they may not touch the ball. He’s converting at a 44.1% clip from the corners, while shooting 38.5% from deep overall.
“My game is not like those guys that go out and have the ball in their hands all the time,” Green explained.
“So, I'm just going out there, working on my game, and just trying to be there. When I can, I work on everything the other guys don't do.”
Even beyond the corners, Green feels he’s gotten comfortable with the nuances of the NBA style over the years after beginning his professional basketball career overseas. Finding the proper balance between shooting on the catch, attacking a closeout, or finding chances to cut is vital.
“Just learning the flow of the NBA. I feel like every league that I played in was a little bit different,” Green highlighted. “Here, in the NBA, just working on spacing the floor and being cut at the right time, rather than just learning the spacing part, like the wing, and the how and everything and let the game come to me honestly.”
Green has remained an efficient finisher, converting at a 70.3% clip from within three feet of the rim. Between playing in college, overseas, and in the NBA, he’s dealt with many different circumstances when attacking the rim, all contributing to his ability to execute now.
Whether Green is traded before the midseason deadline or remains with the Pelicans, he remains focused on filling a role that has drawn the admiration of front offices around the league.
Grant Afseth
