Mavs’ Kidd on Green: ‘I think that the contract is going to take care of itself’

The Dallas Mavericks finished the preseason with a 114-104 victory over the Detroit Pistons at the American Airlines Center on Friday night.

Dallas was led by fourth-year guard/forward Josh Green, who scored 15 of his 22 points in the first quarter. He converted 5-for-5 field goal attempts, including 3-for-3 from three. His five field goal made marks the first time in his career he has recorded at least five made field goals in a quarter.

“I think he was aggressive,” Kidd said about Green. “He didn’t hesitate, caught, shot, got to the basket. Just a lot of carryover of what he’s been doing this preseason.”

Green added: “I just wanted to come out and just win the game going into the season with a win under our belt and with momentum. I wanted to come in and when I’m open, shoot the ball. I know what I’ve been doing to work on. Just a little bit of everything and just trying to have fun.

Green is eligible for a contract extension, which would start at the beginning of the 2024-25 season, and the Mavs and Green have until October 23 to make that happen. If not, he will become a restricted free agent at season’s end. Whether he gets paid now or later, Kidd believes Green will get his money.

“I think he’s just trying to play the game the right way through everything that he’s been working on during the summer and things that we have asked him to do, both offensively and defensively,” Kidd said. “I think that’s what he has been focused on. I think that the contract is going to take care of itself at some point. He’s going to get a contract at some point, and if it’s not now it’s going to be after the season. But he’s doing everything to be successful with or without the contract. He’s just focused on doing the right things. He did that for us this training camp, and we believe he’s going to do that for us during the season.”g

The 22-year-old, who averaged 9.1 points, 3.0 rebounds last season,  says he will let his agents handle the extension and focus on playing basketball.

“I’m just letting my agents and the front office take care of that,” Green said about the extension. “But my eye is on the 25th and beating the Spurs and getting off to a good start.”

Green appears to be elevating his game. According to Marc Stein, Green’s team and the Mavs have discussed an extension, so we’ll see how this plays out.