After news emerged today confirming the Dallas Mavericks had waived veteran center JaVale McGee, Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes reported that a fellow Western Conference contender – the Sacramento Kings – are interested in signing the 35-year-old for increased frontcourt depth, once he clears waivers.
Kings keen to boost their bench options
- The Athletic’s Shams Charania wrote on August 22 that Dallas were expected to stretch-and-waive McGee, while re-signing forward Markieff Morris to a new deal, while long-time NBA insider Marc Stein reported last month this decision – and a Tim Hardaway Jr trade – was likely
- McGee can sign with any team as a free agent once he clears waivers, having agreed a three-year, $17.2m deal with the Mavericks last summer
- After being selected #18 in the 2008 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards and subsequently spending three-and-a-half seasons there, McGee is now poised to be joining his ninth team leaguewide this offseason
Editor’s note: McGee officially signed a one-year guaranteed deal with Sacramento on Sept. 2
McGee averaged 4.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and shot 64% from the field in 42 regular season contests – seven starts – for a Dallas Mavericks side who surprisingly failed to make the postseason, despite the midseason acquisition of Kyrie Irving.
He averaged a career-low 8.5 MPG under Jason Kidd and the 50-year-old’s coaching staff, so wherever his next destination turns out to be, the veteran big man will naturally hope for more minutes elsewhere like Phoenix in the previous season.
A reunion with the LA Lakers was mooted during a recent podcast by the Kamenetzky Brothers on Monday, while a second stint in Golden State and him being a potentially calming presence under Ime Udoka’s newlook Houston Rockets side have also been mentioned elsewhere on social media so far this week.
Bleacher Report claim the Mavs tried to trade him previously, but failed in attempts to secure a willing partner that would do a deal at a sufficient asking price.
Behind their three-time All-Star center Domantas Sabonis, the Kings have Alex Len and new recruit Nerlens Noel as their back-up big men while second-year center Neemias Queta is expected to be offloaded according to some fan websites.
Sabonis was forced to miss representing his native Lithuania at the ongoing FIBA World Cup after undergoing thumb surgery last month and it’s unclear whether he’ll be ready for the start of the new season in late October.
It would make sense they want to cover their bases and McGee, who has far more experience than both aforementioned existing options, would provide extra cover while benefiting from a lighter workload from the previous campaign.
Picture source: Getty Images
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