Mavericks Sign Gerald Green

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Mavericks Sign Gerald Green

An injection of youth and athleticism arrives in the form of Gerald Green, a former Slam Dunk Contest champ who signed a one-year deal with the Mavericks on Wednesday. The former first-round pick is only 22 years old and averaged more than 10 points per game just two seasons ago.

“We’re really excited about the addition of Gerald Green to the Mavericks family,” president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said Thursday morning. “He possesses youth, athleticism and is a young player we think has real upside.”

Green (6-8, 200) played for three teams – Boston, Minnesota and Houston – during his first three years in the league. He jumped directly from high school to the NBA back in 2005 as the 18th overall pick, and that element should bring a smile to the face of Jason Kidd and Rick Carlisle.

The high-flyer won the dunk title during All-Star Weekend back in 2007. The sight of Green taking a lob from Kidd on the break no doubt played into the Mavs’ thinking. But the Houston native has shown flashes of being more than just a one-trick pony.  

“He can get up and down the court, fill the lanes and has real solid range,” Nelson said. “We feel after he has the chance to work with Rick, we can develop a good system for Gerald. He’s a threat from 3-point range.

“Having the opportunity to play with a guy like Jason Kidd will simplify things and that certainly has a place with young, developing players.”

Green is a career 37-percent shooter from beyond the arc, drilling a career-high 95 3-pointers during 2006-07. He also averaged 10.4 points in 22.0 minutes that year for the Celtics, who traded Green to Minnesota as part of the Kevin Garnett deal last summer. Green, with career averages of 8.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 143 games, was dealt to his hometown Rockets this past season, but cut loose after just one game.

“We feel he’s at the perfect stage to take a shot on,” Nelson said. “He’s been humbled a little bit and is more understanding of the work that has to be put in. I’m not saying this is automatically going to work out, but the system is here for him to have success.”

Green adds depth behind starting small forward Josh Howard, while also being able to play shooting guard. The Mavs current roster now stands at eight: Green, Kidd, Howard, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Erick Dampier, Jerry Stackhouse and Brandon Bass.

The Mavs view adding Green as low risk with the potential for high reward in the vein of Gana Diop and Bass. That strategy of signing young players that didn’t catch on early in their careers has yielded a couple of solid contributors.

“We’ve had decent success with guys like DeSagana and Brandon,” Nelson said. “To give an opportunity at this age with this kid is something that has a lot of upside.”

Green didn’t have to wait until the league moratorium ends on July 9. Minimum contracts of one or two years can be signed at this time. He’s expected to join the summer league team, which begins practices Monday.