JaVale McGee will be a free agent for the third straight summer, but the Warriors’ center said he doesn’t want to play anywhere else, relays Chris Haynes of ESPN. The 30-year-old has collected a pair of rings during his two seasons with Golden State and he would like to come back for more.
“I haven’t thought about [another team] mainly because, hopefully, in my mind, I’m a Warrior for the rest of my career,” he said. “If that happens, it would be a blessing.”
McGee’s numbers this season weren’t impressive — 4.8 PPG and 2.6RPG in 9.5 minutes — but his production increased when coach Steve Kerr made him a starter after the All-Star break. McGee held that job on and off throughout the playoffs, but turned out to be a difference maker in the Finals. He was 14 of 17 from the field against the Cavaliers, turning in a 12-point performance in Game 2 and a 10-point outing in Game 3.
McGee played on a veteran’s minimum contract worth $2.1MM this season and can expect a similar deal if he returns. The Warriors will be well into luxury tax territory after re-signing Kevin Durant and will take a severe hit with any contract above the minimum.
Golden State has other free agents to address in David West, Zaza Pachulia, Kevon Looney, Patrick McCaw and Nick Young. Kerr has also expressed a desire for a younger and more versatile bench, so there’s no guarantee that re-signing McGee is part of the Warriors’ plans.
“I don’t know how [free agency] is going to turn out, but it’s going to obviously be a long one, especially with everybody waiting for LeBron [James] and Kawhi [Leonard],” McGee said. “So, you never know what pieces will fall and who needs who. But I want to be back with the Warriors. This is where I want to be.”
Of course he wants to return to the Warriors. No one else made him an offer last year and it will probably be the same this year. Return to the Warriors and make a couple of million dollars, or sit home on the couch. Tough choice.
Cavs should consider taking him. He is longer, taller and would and make more of an impact than TT.
He exemplifies why rings don’t mean anything unless you are a star player, he can say is got as many as Hakeem & Robinson, & more than Ewing, DH12, Zo… as centers go, he hasn’t won them, just been in the squad, but at the end of the day he might win a few more if he stays, but just a question of been in the right place at the right time, lucky guy, no talent & probably even overpaid with those 2+MM/year.
Robert Horry wasn’t a star player and his rings mean something.
I’m sure JaVale is happy with his two rings even if you aren’t.
” rings don’t mean anything unless you are a star player”
Rings are not a measure of much, even for star players. Look at Jerry West, 1-8 in finals, or Elgin Baylor, lost 7 times in the finals. At the end of the day, basketball is a team game.
Rings, two or more millions blah blah just bring JaVale back, period… He, like David West, are warriors for life….
There’s not room for both him and West. I think if West decides to play another year, Javale’s gone.
Someone please offer him and take him from GSW.
— Cavs fan