The move was done by the Sixers in time for McGee to sign with another team heading into the postseason.
JaVale McGee is now available to be scooped up by a playoff team. The Philadelphia 76ers center, acquired in a midseason trade from the Denver Nuggets, is now no longer a member of his new team.
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From Sam Amick at USA Today Sports:
"The Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to waive center JaVale McGee in time for him to sign with a playoff team, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because the decision had not been announced.Despite having buyout talks with the team in recent days, McGee didn’t wind up giving back any of his salary owed ($11.2 million for this season, $12 million for next season)."
This is fantastic news for McGee on two fronts: first, he continues to receive a rather large contract from the 76ers that, on top of a smaller contract with the team he signs, may vault him among the highest payed players in the NBA; and second, he can sign with a playoff contender and play meaningful basketball in the postseason, which he wouldn’t be able to do in Philadelphia.
Amick lists the Lone Star State teams (the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs) and the Miami Heat as logical destinations for McGee. He would provide any of these teams with excellent rim protection off the bench, durability for a long playoff push and at least semi-competent scoring.
Two other locations for McGee could be with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers. The Thunder added Utah’s Enes Kanter at the trade deadline, but the combination of him and Steven Adams is less that inspiring for a playoff caliber team, so depth may be needed.
The Clippers have enjoyed a stellar season from DeAndre Jordan, but beyond him and the banged-up Blake Griffin the Clippers don’t have much rebounding and rim protection (unless Spencer Hawes and his man-bun are the answer in LA).
For Philadelphia, it was clear since the trade occurred that the acquisition had nothing to do with getting JaVale McGee on the team and everything to do with the top-18 protected first round pick they are getting from Oklahoma City via Denver. That pick is top-15 protected the next two years after.
How long are the Sixers planning on staying in the cellar if they are willing to eat up $12 million in dead money just to gain a protected first round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder? They spent the trade deadline giving up some of the assets they may need for an actual return to relevancy, and this extends their planned inferiority for longer than anticipated.
[H/T: USA Today Sports]
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