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Report: JaVale McGee close to signing with Boston Celtics

By DJoumbarey A. Moreau

Jan 31, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee (34) during the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee (34) during the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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Free agent center JaVale McGee is close to signing a brand new contract with the storied Boston Celtics franchise.

JaVale McGee was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers from the Denver Nuggets earlier this season and less than a month later the Sixers waived the 7’0 center from Flint, Michigan. Even though he was waived by one of the worst teams in the league thankfully it looks like we’ll be seeing McGee play basketball again this season.

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During his weekly appearance on a Boston sports radio station, 98.5 The Sports Hub, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge spoke about the free agent.

On the show, Ainge said these words speaking about the journeyman:

"JaVale is a long, athletic guy, and we don’t have that type of player — an above-the-rim offensive and defensive player. He’s been paid a lot of money in our league, had some injuries, hasn’t lived up to his potential yet, and we’re hoping that he can under [Celtics head coach Brad Stevens’] tutelage.I think he’s in a good place, emotionally and mentally, and he really wants to get his career on the right path.”"

On the surface Ainge is completely right. Taking a gamble on McGee isn’t a bad risk.

At worst McGee is on the Celtics bench and provides another athletic defender. At best he becomes another player within the rotation that can come in and give good minutes. Looking at some of the other notable players, big men more in particular that Celtics head coach Brad Stevens has helped developed, McGee might follow their trend. Celtics players such as Kelly Olynyk, Jared Sullinger, and Tyler Zeller have all become good NBA players being coached by Stevens.

However for a player who would make the All-Shaqtin’ a Fool First team, and become the first person nominated in the segment’s hall of fame, the move could backfire for the Celtics franchise.

McGee wants the opportunity to shed his storied blooper filled career, and turn into a decent NBA player, and Ainge belives that he can do it.

Hopefully we can see McGee start to make a real impact once he gets a genuine opportunity to showcase his talent. Optimistically speaking we might see McGee turn into a…dare I say it…a better NBA player. He has all of the potential to do it, and at 27-years-old he still has time to figure it out.

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