The Charlotte Hornets have yet to make their stance on holding onto Josh Green clear, as they decide who to cut before the 2025-26 regular season opens to trim the roster size down to 15. However, they might not have a say in the matter since he isn't expected to be ready for training camp.
According to Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer, Green won't reportedly recover from shoulder surgery quickly enough to be a full participant when the Hornets convene for training camp in October. To be clear, Boone stated in his recent mailbag that there is "no definitive word on his recovery timetable."
So, if the organization can't trade the swingman if it wanted to, because why would other teams give up assets for an injured player?
Green's value is already pretty low after a dismal 2024-25 campaign that saw him fail to live up to expectations of being the ideal 3-and-D guy. In his defense, he did shoot efficiently from long distance, particularly early in the season. However, the former Dallas Mavericks marksman offered little elsewhere, as his defense was middling at best, and his field-goal percentage was pretty substandard.
As harsh as it may sound, the Hornets are stuck with Green. It would have been better if he had the benefit of a whole training camp to at least determine how he can fix his flaws and establish chemistry with his teammates, but the recent report about his status may have thrown that out the window.
The road to redemption for Josh Green
Maybe the 24-year-old vet can redeem himself once he fully regains his health post-surgery. With the Hornets having to let go of different potentially valuable players in the following weeks before the start of the regular season, he will have to prove his worth to the organization one way or another.
The best way for Green to do that is to make the most of his playing time, although chances are he won't be suiting up 27.8 minutes per game like he did in the 2024-25 campaign. The addition of several guards and small wings this offseason has resulted in a pretty crowded rotation at those positions, and that is also why Charlotte would have probably been better off swapping the Australian hoopster for a big man or future assets.
Nevertheless, the coaching staff will still probably find a way to squeeze some minutes for Green, especially since he is the fourth-highest-paid Hornet this season.
If he fails to be a serviceable rotation player and sticks around past the 2026 trade deadline, the silver lining for Charlotte is that Green will be an expiring contract next year, which would likely make it easier to move him if it so desires. Hopefully, no injury will hamper whatever the front office plans with him that time around.