Josh Green Contract Extension: What's 'Right Price' for Mavs?

The Dallas Mavericks could potentially sign Josh Green to a contract extension this summer to avoid restricted free agency next year.

Nothing can help an NBA team become a true championship contender quite like homegrown talent developing nicely while being on cost-controlled contracts.

That’s something the Dallas Mavericks haven't had a lot of over the last handful of years, but they seem to have a good chance of having it now with young players like Josh Green, Jaden Hardy, Dereck Lively II and OMax Prosper on the roster.

Green, who was the 18th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, as improved every season since then. Last season was his best yet, as he averaged a career-high 9.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists while playing 25.7 minutes per game. In 60 games, Green shot 53.7 percent from the field, 40.2 percent from deep and 72.3 percent from the free-throw line – all career bests.

In 2020, the Mavs signed Green to a four-year rookie contract worth a total of $13.6 million. Now, with Green having shown real potential as a key 3-and-D wing for Dallas, he could be making near that amount annually on his next contract.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavs are "expected to soon open contract extension talks with Green after it was agreed they would begin later in free agency." And according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, the full Mid-Level Exception, which is $12.4 million annually, could be the "floor" for Green when it comes to his market.

Given that the Mavs recently acquired Grant Williams from the Boston Celtics, giving him a four-year, $54 million deal in a sign-and-trade, we'd say that's about the sweet spot for a potential Green contract extension. Statistically speaking, Williams and Green had similar numbers last season, and although their size and play styles are different, the more 3-and-D wings a team has on its roster in today's NBA, the better.

Even if the Mavs can't work out an extension with Green this summer, they won't be in a situation like they were with Jalen Brunson, who signed with the New York Knicks last summer and left Dallas with nothing. Green will be a restricted free agent next summer if no extension is signed, meaning the Mavs can match any offer he receives.

Still, though, even with that added layer of protection, it would be best if the Mavs could find a way to extend Green now, especially if the annual salary is in that MLE range like MacMahon speculated on. Green making around $12 million per year for the Mavs sounds like a win-win for both sides, and if Green continues to improve in his fourth year the same way he did last season, that kind of contract could be viewed as a major bargain around this time next offseason.