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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Taurean Green doesn't speak much Spanish, and that may be a problem.

The former UF point guard confirmed Wednesday that he has agreed to play for the Spanish club CAI Zaragoza.

Green is in the process of negotiating what is believed to be a one-year deal with the team.

He would not confirm the specifics of the contract.

"I feel like this is the best move for me right now," he said in a phone interview.

Green said he is excited to spend some time overseas and that he views the move as a positive step for his career.

"The competition is tough. The guys playing in this league are good players," he said.

Green points to Spain's recent Olympic success as proof of the league's talent level.

CAI Zaragoza was promoted to the top flight of Spanish basketball after winning the second-division title last season.

Zaragoza will now face off with well-known clubs such as Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spanish basketball's premier league.

Green said he is not worried about his inability to speak the native language, and that he doesn't think he will have a hard time adjusting to life in Spain.

"I love Spanish food," he said. "So I'm excited about that."

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Green slipped to the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft, where he was selected No.52 overall by the Portland Trailblazers, after leaving UF early along with former teammates Corey Brewer, Al Horford and Joakim Noah.

While the rest of his UF teammates contributed heavily in their rookie years, Green spent most of his at the end of the bench. Actually, several different benches.

Since draft day, the 6-foot guard has spent time with the Blazers' Development League team, the Idaho Stampede, the Denver Nuggets and most recently the New York Knicks.

Despite making more than $400,000 in his rookie year, Green only averaged 1.6 points per game and struggled to make it off the bench in both Portland and Denver.

Green, who was cut by the Knicks on July 28, said that he hopes a year overseas will help showcase his talent for NBA teams.

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