Former Cleveland Cavs forward Javonte Green joined the Cavs mid-season last year, but will be rocking a new jersey as a member of the Detroit Pistons. Green, who split the 2024-25 campaign between the New Orleans Pelicans and Cleveland, agreed to a one-year deal with the Pistons. The veteran forward spent the first two seasons of his career with the Boston Celtics before playing for the Chicago Bulls for four seasons.
Green will look to bolster the young, talented, up-and-coming Pistons by signing the veteran forward, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
“Free agent forward Javonte Green is finalizing a one-year deal with the Detroit Pistons, sources tell ESPN. Green split last season in Cleveland and New Orleans and now enters his seventh NBA campaign as a defensive-minded wing,” Charania reported.
After averaging 5.8 points on 44.6% shooting, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 50 games for the Pelicans, Green’s role diminished from New Orleans to joining a contending Cavs team. Green went from averaging 21.8 minutes with the Pelicans to playing 9.2 minutes per game for Cleveland. Perhaps Javonte will be averaging somewhere in between with the Pistons, who will look to build off their first playoff appearance in six seasons.
With other offseason moves in mind, the Cavs seemingly moved on from Green’s expiring contract. Bringing back forward Larry Nance Jr. and Sam Merrill on a four-year deal, the Cavs also traded Isaac Okoro for Lonzo Ball. After finishing the 2024-25 campaign with the best record in the Eastern Conference, Cleveland is projected to return to the top of the standings in 2025-26.
Why Kenny Atkinson is rewatching Cavs, Pacers series
David Richard-Imagn Images
Head coach Kenny Atkinson rewatched the Cavs and Pacers series during the offseason. Focused on building off the Cavs’ second-round series against the Pacers, Atkinson has spent time with his players this summer, per Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.
“He spent some time with Evan Mobley and DeAndre Hunter out in Los Angeles. He spent some time with Darius Garland going through the whole recovery plan with the doctors and stuff like that,” Fedor said, via Hoopshype. “He went out to see Sam Merrill. He went out to see Donovan Mitchell.”
Atkinson has had a busy summer focused on next season.
“He even told me he has watched the rewatched the Indiana series so many different times, trying to study that and learn from that,” Fedor added.
The Cavs will look to make a deep playoff run in 2026.
