AUGUST 16: The Suns have officially signed McGee, the team announced today in a press release.
AUGUST 2: The Suns have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran center JaVale McGee, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link), who reports that the deal will be worth $5MM.
Perhaps the premier rim-rolling backup center in the NBA, McGee has made it a habit to know his role for some excellent playoff teams over the last several seasons. He has won two titles with the Warriors and one with the Lakers during his decorated career.
McGee, 33, will be fortifying the front line for a Phoenix club that struggled to defend the rim when starting center Deandre Ayton sat during a playoff run that saw the Suns get to within two wins of the franchise’s first-ever NBA title. After Ayton’s primary backup, Dario Saric, left the Suns’ NBA Finals series against the Bucks with an ACL tear, Phoenix had to get creative in trying to steady the ship whenever Ayton rested or got into foul trouble.
With Saric absent, deep-reserve big man Frank Kaminsky gave the club serviceable minutes erratically, but he is not nearly the defender McGee can be. Saric will likely miss most – if not all – of the 2021/22 season due to his injury, so adding a reliable backup who is a true center was a must this offseason.
The seven-foot journeyman most recently suited up for the Nuggets. Denver was swept out of the playoffs during a Western Conference semifinals series against McGee’s new club, the Suns.
McGee was first dealt from the Lakers to the Cavaliers during the 2020 offseason to make room for new L.A. roster additions. After 33 games with Cleveland during the 2020/21 season, he was shipped out to a better fit, a playoff-bound club in need of a backup center upgrade. In 46 total games last year, McGee averaged 7.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 1.2 BPG, while shooting 51.1% from the field, in just 14.7 MPG.
Luke Adams contributed to this report.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Is Sean marks awake?
Wow you serious. What was I saying all thru finals. Better get a backup center. Then you get one of best. Chris will feed you the ball Javale. This is a great pickup. I thought he was staying in Denver. Wow this is huge for Suns trust me. Now if they sign Griffin. It’s over. Just give them the trophy.
Suns got lucky this year, every opponent they beat was banged up before they inevitably lost to the Bucks. Both the Nuggets and Jazz are far more likely to reach the WCF next year than the Suns are of repeating in the West.
Astute commentary as always from WallyWood.
Lucky like when MJ retired in 94-95, and causing Houston to win a pair of titles? Yeahhhh that lucky right?
YEAH LOVE IT!!!!!!!
THANK YOU JJ!!!!!!!……. JUST WHAT WE NEEDED!!!!!!!……. !!!!!!!……. !!!!!!!……. !!!!!!!
Great signing by James Jones.
Are the Suns better than Lakers come playoffs time?
Who replaces Saric?
IMO
Jazz will still be the best team in West.
Blazers fans,
Be real, the team is not able to upgrade the roster.
Maybe the person in the article your reading about? Reading is key, Sillybot.
Right, because McGee was such a key factor to winning championships with the Lakers and the Warriors. He’s easily one of the worst players in NBA history with three rings.
McGee was so bad with the Lakers in 2020 that he didn’t play a single minute in the Finals against Miami. In his first season with the Warriors he played a total of 23 minutes in the Finals against the Cavs. The year after that Golden State easily swept the Cavs, which they would have done without him anyway. He’s just another guy.
I’m convinced you don’t watch basketball. You’re addicted to Shaq’s opinions so you’re unaware that as far as back up big men go, JaVale is about as good as it gets. He plays the role you need him to. Sorry to break it to you but sometimes that role means other guys getting minutes especially in the freaking finals man. Use your head
3 Titles, Gold medal, and another NBA contract…. Not too shabby of a career for McGee.