NBA Free Agency: Cavs officially announce addition of Jeff Green

A day after officially signing José Calderón., the Cleveland Cavaliers have officially announced the addition of nine-year NBA veteran Jeff Green. The Cavs were originally linked to the forward on July 7.

In Cleveland, Green will likely fill a similar role to Richard Jefferson and Derrick Williams. He can play both the three and four spots and gives the Cavs another wing who, in theory, could allow Cleveland to go small as necessary. Green is also insurance for Jefferson, who turned 37 in June. His addition also makes it less likely that Williams returns.

Cleveland will also hope a smaller role for Green in Cleveland will help him find more success. Because of LeBron, all Green will have to do to take open threes, defend who he’s asked to and offer a minimal amount playmaking. If he can do that, and be good enough to give LeBron the occasional night off, that’s a win for the Cavs. And it’s on a minimum deal, so the Cavs didn’t use any of their taxpayer midlevel exception — which they’ll need to sign Cedi Osman — to add Green.

At this time, it’s unclear what number Green will wear in Cleveland. He has worn 22 (which is retired for Larry Nance), 8, 32 and 34 (which is retired for Austin Carr) in his career.

Last season with the Magic, he averaged 9.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 22.2 minutes per game. He also played for the Clippers, Thunder/Sonics, Grizzles and Celtics. In Boston, he played for then Celtics assistant and current Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue. During last night’s Cavs-Warriors summer league broadcast on NBA TV, Lue called Green “a great fit” and praised what he could bring to the Cavs.