Jeff Green is not the solution for the Clippers

Nov 15, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Jeff Green (32) passes in the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Clippers made a last-minute deal for Jeff Green at the NBA trade deadline, but he isn’t the solution to the team’s problems.

Just minutes before the noon NBA trade deadline, the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies agreed on a deal that sent Lance Stephenson and the Clippers’ 2019 lottery protected first-round pick (’19 and ’20, conveys to a 2nd in ’22 otherwise) in exchange for Jeff Green.

Obviously, the Clippers are desperate for a swingman Doc Rivers can pencil into his rotation, not to mention one that can play some power forward in Blake Griffin‘s absence. Rivers decided to tap the well once again acquiring Green, whom he coached with the Boston Celtics.

The problem with this deal is two fold.

First, Green has been consistently inconsistent throughout his career. He’s viewed as a picture-perfect small forward, standing 6’9″ with a 7’1″ wingspan. He’s athletic, can defend, has a decent jumper out to the three-point line and is always well liked in the locker room.

However, the statistics say otherwise and have nearly his entire career.

His 43.9 career field goal percentage is below average, as is his 34.0 three-point percentage. His ability to space the floor from the wing is typically diminished because he can’t consistently knock down jumpers.

For instance, the Grizzlies acquired him last season at the deadline for the exact same reason the Clippers have. While he did hit a solid 36.2 percent of his threes last season, he also shot a disappointing 42.7 percent from the floor and was unable to provide the spacing the team needed. His shooting splits this season are even worse (43.1/30.9).

Additionally, his rebounding numbers are solid, but not great. According to Basketball-Reference, Green pulls down 13.8 percent of available defensive rebounds. For comparison, Stephenson averages 15.4 for his career.

Considering the Clippers currently rank 26th in defensive rebound rate, Green isn’t going to improve the team’s weak rebounding.

According to ESPN’s Real Plus-Minus, Green has graded out as below average defensively each of the last three years (-1.22, -2.05, -.27). On-off numbers back up the DRPM stats as well. The Grizzlies were .1 points per 100 worse with him on the bench defensively this season and were 4.9 points per 100 better last season. Additionally, the Celtics were +3.4 with him on the bench last season and +2.0 the year before.

Green doesn’t use his excellent length, size or athleticism to his advantage. His career steal percentage is 1.3 and he only blocks 1.4 percent of shot attempts. This season his numbers are right at his averages (1.3, 1.1).

So what does that mean in context? Well, his numbers this season are nearly identical to Paul Pierce‘s (1.2, 1.0). A defensive savant, Green is not.

Looking at his statistics alone, Green doesn’t seem like much of an upgrade over anyone the Clippers have run out at small forward the last few years. However, we do have to at least consider that, for the time being, Green will likely be seeing a good amount of minutes as a small-ball four with Griffin still sidelined. While his rebounding numbers are quite bleak for a power forward, he does give the Clippers a longer, bigger option on both sides of the ball than they have had recently.

Pierce has been bad overall all season, and lately Rivers gave Stephenson minutes at the four, which worked out decently. Green should be capable of handling those minutes and providing the team some value as a more dynamic two-way player in small lineups who isn’t going to turn the ball over.

The issue is what happens when Green plays with the starters as a small forward?