Can Danny Green have a role with the Sixers in his age-36 season?

Danny Green spent two successful seasons in Philadelphia. Can he make it to the Sixers at age 36 and help space the floor for Joel Embiid once again?

• By
  
  Paul Hudrick
  

• in September 18, 2023 11:47 am

Ready or not, another season of 76ers basketball is right around the corner. With that said, it’s once again time to look at the preseason player profiles at Liberty Ballers.

We already looked at the guys and two-way players that the team has signed Exhibit 10 contracts, Filip Petrusev, Furkan Korkmaz and Jaden Springer We look forward to how they could impact the team in the 2023-24 season.

danny green

Age: 36

Contract status: One year contract (not guaranteed)

What a strange and winding road it has been for Danny Green since he was traded by the Sixers.

Green suffered a torn ACL in his left leg early in the Sixers’ Game 6 elimination loss to the Heat in the 2022 playoffs. It was a deflating injury for the team and difficult for Green, then 34 years. During the offseason, the Sixers used Green’s contract (along with a first-round pick) to acquire De’Anthony Melton from the Memphis Grizzlies.

Green rehabbed impressively and returned to the court on February 1 with the Grizzlies, less than nine months after his devastating injury. He played in only three games for Memphis before being traded to the Houston Rockets at the deadline. After being purchased by Houston, the then-35-year-old returned to where it all began, signing with the Cavaliers for the remainder of the season and returning to Cleveland, where he began his career in 2009. Green played in just eight games. regular season. He played with the Cavs and saw a total of 40 minutes in Cleveland’s series loss to the New York Knicks in five games.

Season outlook: Green’s deal is not guaranteed for this season, a source told Liberty Ballers, making this an extremely low-risk, high-reward signing for the Sixers.

During his two years in Philadelphia, Green made 39.5 percent of his 3-pointers on healthy volume (5.4 attempts per game). In 20 postseason games, those numbers have increased to 39.8 percent on 5.7 attempts. Green’s quick release and his ability to move without the ball helped the Sixers’ offense tremendously. It’s also worth keeping in mind that this isn’t just a team reunion for Green: he was a starter for the Toronto Raptors team that Nick Nurse led to a title.

The obvious problems are Green’s age and the wear and tear on his body. Green never moved particularly well when he was a Sixer. Now 36 years old and just a year removed from ACL surgery, it’s hard to imagine he’ll move any better.

Still, it’s not difficult to predict a possible role for Green. The Sixers lost Georges Niang, a quick, accurate three-point shooter who sometimes had trouble moving defensively. On a team struggling with wing depth, Green could work in that role. He still shot well in limited action last season (16 of 37, 43.2 percent) and will be further away from the injury. With players like Melton, PJ Tucker and Tobias Harris taking on the tough defensive assignments, Green could do well as a strong team defender with quick hands.

It likely comes down to how Green looks physically. If he’s anything like the 2021-22 version, he can absolutely be useful as a wing option off the bench. If it doesn’t, move on.

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