We're now over two weeks past the 2024-25 NBA season trade deadline, but the New Orleans Pelicans weren't done making roster moves just yet. It was announced Wednesday evening, February 19, that the team bought out veteran wing Javonte Green.
This comes just months after Green was acquired by the Pelicans as one of their key offseason additions. They signed him towards the end of the summer to a one-year, $2.4 million minimum contract. New Orleans may have saved his NBA career, as he spent most of the 2023-24 league year as a free agent after suffering through various injuries in the 2022-23 season.
Green didn't spend much time on the waiver wires, as he was immediately picked up the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs get another versatile wing who can guard multiple positions to bolster their depth ahead of an anticipated deep playoff run. Because Javonte Green was bought out by the Pelicans instead of waived, his salary will no longer count on their books for the remainder of the season.
Javonte Green the latest victim of the Pelicans' lost season
Javonte Green was signed to be additional depth for a New Orleans team that was loaded with top-end talent but was severely lacking in reserves, especially on the wings. Clearly, the Pelicans' campaign didn't go as expected, but it couldn't have played out better for Green.
Due to their litany of injuries, the Pels had ample opportunity for Javonte Green to showcase his talents and, more importantly, his health. He wound up playing 50 games for New Orleans this season and even started in 18 of them. In that time, he put up 5.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.7 stocks per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 35 percent from deep.
He had garnered some notable trade interest ahead of the deadline, but a deal apparently never materialized. That came as a surprise considering that the Pelicans had every reason to move him this season and there should have been plenty of interest from playoff teams who could have used some additional defense, 3-point shooting, and wing depth on their bench. Clearly, there was at least one interested party, as he and the Cavaliers agreed to a new partnership almost immediately after his buyout from New Orleans was announced.
Technically, Green will have to clear waivers before he's eligible to join Cleveland, which gives other teams 48 hours upon his release from the Pelicans to put in a claim for him. He'll join Elfrid Payton as former New Orleans signings from this season who ended up on a different team.