San Antonio Spurs sign forward JaMychal Green: Analysis

The San Antonio Spurs have signed forward JaMychal Green, according to a press release by the team. 

"The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed forward JaMychal Green. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not announced.Green, 6-8/230, was a member of the Spurs 2014 Summer League team in Las Vegas. In six games he averaged 7.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in 16.2 minutes.The Montgomery, Ala. native last season playing in the French Pro A League for Roanne, averaging 11.8 points and 6.6 rebounds in 22.1 minutes in 25 games while shooting .530 (122-230) from the field."

Shams Charania of RealGM says this is a two-year, partially guaranteed contract. And that makes sense, given the Spurs current roster construction. They have 14 guaranteed contracts, plus still have Aron Baynes who remains unsigned. I’d hypothesize that Baynes, Green, Bryce Cotton will compete for the final roster spot, with a plan for the other two to potentially go to the Spurs’ D-League affiliate, the Austin Toros. Baynes will probably have a leg up on the other two though, meaning Green especially will need to show up in excellent shape to have a chance at winning that spot.

Green played last season in the French League with Roanne, where he averaged nearly 12 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes per contest. At 6’9 with a 7’2 wingspan, he excels particularly on the boards. He’s also a guy you don’t have to worry about playing hard on both ends, as his intensity and energy shows through every time he steps on the floor. That was particularly evident this summer, where Green performed well for the Spurs in Las Vegas.

His downsides are that he doesn’t particularly have a refined offensive game, and he’s still pretty skinny despite having put on nearly 15 pounds of what looks like muscle since his days at Alabama. Also, while his performance in Vegas showed that he’s improved on the perimeter, he’s never been great there to begin with. Basically, just imagine Green as a less athletic, taller version of Kenneth Faried. While no one has Faried’s motor, Green works hard and those guys are never bad to have around. However, it’s often hard to find a place for non-elite motor power forwards.

The Spurs do have some experience with Green after he spent all of 2012-13 with the Toros. Their coaches may have a better familiarity with him than they do with most other prospects, but I’m not sure that’ll matter. Green will probably collect his small guarantee and head back over to Europe this season, where he can continue to star.