Rumors: Josh Green is Dallas Mavericks third-most important player

The Dallas Mavericks drafted Josh Green in 2018 in a surprising pick. Fans were hoping for Saddiq Bey, Desmond Bane, or Tyrese Maxey, but the Mavs passed on all three to select Green. The pick was a key piece of the Mavericks' front office shakeup in 2021, and the 6’5 wing struggled to find a place in the rotation as a rookie. He showed flashes as a sophomore but was played off the floor in the playoffs and few viewed him as a key piece of the team’s puzzle moving forward.

Green put in a tremendous amount of work in the offseason to improve his game. The 22-year-old remade his jump shot and gained a ton of confidence. He has looked like a completely different player this season, and he has impacted the game on both ends of the floor.

Green has missed the last six games with an elbow injury, and the team has missed his presence. The Athletic’s Tim Cato did a mailbag article (subscription required) on Dec. 19 where he shared a rumor from one of the Mavericks executives. Let us take a closer look.

Rumors: Josh Green is Dallas Mavericks third-most important player

Cato noted that the exec told him that he viewed Green as the team’s third-most important player behind Luka Doncic and Spencer Dinwiddie. The scribe notes that the Mavericks would likely only trade Green if it nets them a second star player. He is likely to remain with the team beyond the deadline, and everyone is hoping that he continues his development into a key long-term piece for Dallas.

The Mavs desperately need to make a trade before the deadline. They are currently 15-16 and tenth in the Western Conference. The front office wants to build a title contender around Luka, but they need more talent. Can they find a deal that improves their roster and keeps the door open to acquiring a second star this summer? It is something to watch closely as the Feb. 9 trade deadline approaches, and stay tuned for all the latest.