The Mavericks intend to waive center JaVale McGee and re-sign free agent forward Markieff Morris, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
McGee signed a three-year, $17MM+ contract with Dallas last offseason, but only spent seven games in the starting lineup and subsequently fell out of the team’s rotation altogether. He averaged 4.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in a career-low 8.5 minutes per game across 42 appearances in his first – and only – season in his latest stint as a Maverick.
The Mavs shopped McGee in various trade talks throughout the offseason, but were unable to find a taker. According to Charania, the plan is to stretch the veteran’s remaining salary when he’s waived. That means that instead of counting against the cap for $5.7MM in 2023/24 and $6MM in ’24/25, McGee’s cap hits would be spread across five seasons at a rate of about $2.35MM per year.
As Charania notes, in order to use the stretch provision on McGee, the Mavericks will have to officially waive him by August 31, which is the deadline to stretch a cap hit for the current league year.
The Mavs currently have 15 players on guaranteed contracts, but releasing McGee will open up a spot on the projected 15-man roster for Morris, who finished last season in Dallas after arriving from Brooklyn in the Kyrie Irving blockbuster.
Morris didn’t have much of a role for the Mavs down the stretch, logging just 70 total minutes across eight regular season appearances, but the organization apparently values his toughness and veteran leadership. The 33-year-old has 12 NBA seasons and 750 regular season appearances on his résumé.
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Warriors
Curious as to what toughness and leadership Markieff added last year. ;) Seems like both departments dove off a cliff last season after Brunson and Co. departed.
You mean after jokic cheap shotted him in the back
Both Marcus and Markieff are punks
I understand a bully getting it back but jokic was the bully there. Plus everyone says the Morris twins a punks. Why are they punks and what did they do? Jokic seems like the protected bully here
Typical
Morris twins are soft
Mavs must be kicking themselves knowing they could of had ayton for thj and Holmes bit instead got greedy and tried to include Mcgee. Now they still don’t have a veteran center. Still have thj and Holmes and are waving Mcgee. LOL
They’ll be fine
Fine how?
They have Holmes, they drafted a center in the first round. As far as centers go they’re fine.
@david-45 as a mavs fan i don’t want ayton
McGhee will become a Laker!!!
dub nation!
‘Kieff is still in that sunken place ever since he tried being a tough guy with Jokic.
Mark from Cuba showing us all that it just takes luck to be where he is…
On dumb move after another…
I agree. He has been making bad moves for years apon years now. He’s almost hit the bottom of the shark tank
I want to see jokic and Morris face to face. Not pushing someone in the back when they are not looking and expecting it
One weird move after another. Unless Kyrie is willing to (finally) show some mental toughness and leadership I can see Luka asking for a trade by 2025.
I don’t get the point of waving McGee only to sign a similarly useless/aged player. You might as well have ate the salary for another year for this move.
Cuban seems chill for a billionaire but man, the Mavs are such a mess. They’ve gotta have the worst GM in basketball.