Nets agree to deal with forward Green
The Nets continue to build a roster in Kevin Durant’s vision, agreeing to terms with veteran forward Jeff Green. Durant and Green have a relationship dating back to their days as teammates on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Nets’ acquisition of Green addresses a key need for a floor-spacing, versatile twoway player at the four. He has played this role on a number of potential contenders, including last season’s Houston Rockets and the 2017-18 Cleveland Cavaliers.
“This is deeper than basketball, me and Jeff,” Durant said after facing Green as an opponent following Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals. “I can remember summers for years that we worked out every day together… So the basketball part is pretty cool, but to kinda just grow in this league with him our first few years, to now see where he is: family, kids, married. It just shows how much time has passed.
“So it’s deeper than basketball with us. I’m just enjoying this time we get to play on the court together and appreciate the moments we had together as teammates, as well.”
Now it’s time to make some more moments — and finish what the two started in OKC.
In 18 games with the Rockets last season, Green averaged 12 points and shot 56% from the field and 35% from three. He is the embodiment of a role player, one who will shoot threes, play defense and defer to his teammates.
That’s the name of the game when building a contender around superstars, and the Nets have two: Durant and Kyrie
Irving. Chemistry only becomes an issue when roles aren’t clearly defined. In Brooklyn, it’s Durant and Irving — and maybe, just maybe, James Harden. Everyone else gets in where they fit in.
Green fits. So do Landry Shamet and Bruce Brown, the two other new free agent acquisitions the Nets made recently. So does Joe Harris, who Brooklyn re-signed on a four-year, $75 million contract.
There’s still the cloud of uncertainty hanging over the remainder of the roster: What happens to Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie, Taurean Prince and Jarrett Allen, and how do they fit when their positions are now crowded with talent.
Just a reminder: Green and Durant were teammates in Oklahoma City, and Harden was the sixth man on that roster.
RONDO TO HAWKS
Guard Rajon Rondo took to Instagram to post what appeared to be a farewell message to the Lakers, after he helped them win this past season’s NBA title. He thanked the team’s front office and coach Frank Vogel, among others.
He ended the post with “Now, what’s next“
The answer came quickly. Rondo agreed later Saturday to a two-year deal with the Hawks, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told AP.
Rondo became the latest addition in a busy two days of movement for Atlanta. The Hawks agreed with guard Kris Dunn earlier Saturday on a twoyear contract worth $10 million, a second person told AP. And Atlanta also agreed Friday with Danilo Gallinari on a three-year contract.