The Warriors are slated to sign forward JaMychal Green after a buyout of his contract is complete, league sources confirmed Tuesday afternoon.
Green is in the process of finalizing a contract buyout with the Oklahoma City Thunder, but plans to take his talents to the Bay Area once it’s finished. The news was first reported by The Athletics’ Shams Charania.
Green spent the last two seasons with the Denver Nuggets before he was traded this offseason to the Thunder for UCLA forward Peyton Watson, this year’s No. 30 overall pick, along with future draft assets. Green was in the final year of his contract and due to be paid $8.2 million next season.
The 32-year-old is a proven role player and solid pick up for the Warriors, who lost two key veteran wings, Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica, in free agency. Green had been praised in Denver for his veteran leadership in the locker room.
Green averaged 6.4 points and 4.2 rebounds while playing 16.2 minutes in 67 games last season, his eighth in the league. While his 48.6% shooting from the field was the third-best clip of his career and 87.1% from the free throw line was a career-high mark, Green’s 3-point shooting dipped significantly over the last two seasons. The former Alabama standout went from making 39.9% of his 3.4 attempts from 3-point land per game during the 2020-21 season to converting on a dismal 26.6% of his 1.9 attempts from deep last season.
Though Green is coming off his lowest posted season averages in points and rebounds since he made his NBA debut in January 2015, he’s expected to join an organization known for revitalizing careers.
The Warriors will be Green’s fifth team in eight years.
Gary Payton II, Damion Lee and Juan Toscano-Anderson are other reigning NBA champions heading out the door this season. Meanwhile, Green joins Donte DiVincenzo as being the newest members of Golden State. With the Warriors expected to have first and second-round picks, forward Patrick Baldwin Jr. and guard Ryan Rollins, on their opening night roster, all eyes are turning to Andre Iguodala.
At 38, Iguodala seems to be near the end of his career and could end his career on top after helping the Warriors win their fourth title in eight years despite being limited to just 31 games due to various injuries. Still, as of Tuesday, Iguodala has yet to reveal his plans for next season.
