Caris LeVert is already feeling comfortable with Detroit Pistons
New Detroit Pistons forward Caris LeVert details how he ended up signing with the team on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 in Detroit.
The Detroit Pistons signed free agent Javonte Green to a one-year deal.Green, a 6-foot-5 wing, is known for his defensive abilities and athleticism.
The Detroit Pistons needed to sign one more player to reach the NBA’s minimum roster threshold. On Monday, they did so with a high-flying, defensive-minded veteran.
The Pistons have signed Javonte Green to a one-year deal, according to a report from ESPN. Now entering his seventh season, the 6-foot-5 wing has carved out a niche role as a sparkplug with a play style that’s bigger than his size.
Here’s what Green will bring to Detroit next season.
Pistons prioritize defense, culture with Green
Now entering his seventh season, Green averaged 5.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game split between 50 games with the New Orleans Pelicans, and 18 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was better with New Orleans, where he averaged 5.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 44.6% overall and 35.2% from 3, in 21.8 minutes per game.
Though he brings skill on offense, Green’s contributions are primarily on defense. He produces steals and blocks at a high rate, and his effort on that end consistently stands out in his hustle and willingness to take on tough assignments.
Despite his size, Green also is a strong rebounder — particularly on the offensive glass, where he has routinely posted 90th-percentile rebounding percentages among both wings and forwards according to NBA stats website Cleaning The Glass. His utility on defense and rebounding ability could enable him to spend time at power forward, an area of need for the team following the Simone Fontecchio trade.
On the offensive end, Green’s dynamic athleticism stands out. He will add another above-the-rim threat to a team that already has several in Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland and Jalen Duren. According to Cleaning the Glass, he’s taken more than half of his shots at the rim in four of his six seasons and finishes at a high clip.
His highlight reel largely consists of flashy dunks.
He doesn’t add as much value as a shooter, with a career 33.8% clip from deep. Green is capable of knocking down 3-pointers, though. Cleaning the Glass filters out heaves (deep 3-point attempts at the end of the shot clock) and garbage time minutes. Within that scope, Green has had two notable seasons as a floor-spacer
He shot 36% from 3 on 100 attempts with the Chicago Bulls in 2021-22, and 35% with the Pelicans last season on 107 tries. If teams leave him open, he can punish them.
How Green fits the Pistons’ rotation
It’s safe to assume Tobias Harris will open next season as the starting power forward, barring any unexpected developments. Fontecchio was his primary backup last season. Now that he’s with the Miami Heat, the coaching staff will have to find a new approach when Harris is off of the floor.
Thompson and Holland could spend time at the four. Isaiah Stewart has played power forward in the past. None are perfect fits, though, with Thompson and Holland having yet to prove they can consistently knock down 3-pointers and Stewart being more comfortable at center.
Green gives the coaching staff another option at power forward, but he has enough “3-and-D” traits to thrive in diverse lineups and at different positions. From a culture standpoint, he’s a strong fit due to how hard he works defensively. And at 31-years-old, he’s only the fourth 30-plus year old on the roster after Harris, Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson.
He likely will settle in as the “Paul Reed” of the Pistons’ wing rotation — a high-energy, athletic option the team can rely on to overperform in spot minutes. Reed re-signed with the Pistons this offseason after thriving as a third center last season when Stewart and Jalen Duren were dealing with injuries or foul trouble, and Green has similar traits as a player.
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