Con: Disrupting The Chemistry
JaVale McGee had one breakout playoff series in 2012, during which he averaged 8.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game for the Denver Nuggets. It wasn’t enough to win a hard-fought seven-game series against the Los Angeles Lakers, but it earned McGee a four-year, $44 million extension.
After that, he averaged a meager 18.1 minutes per game in 79 appearances during the 2012-13 season. In the two seasons after that, he played a grand total of 23 games for the Nuggets because of injury problems. So yes, threatening this team’s chemistry for a player like McGee doesn’t sound like a wise decision on principle.
JaVale McGee isn’t a cancerous locker room presence, and no one should be confusing him for Andrew Bynum. But even if McGee were okay with a backup role on a title contender, sometimes even willing contributors can derail a team’s mojo. After all, the Dubs’ success is built on basketball intellect. In the words of the immortal Walter White, the chemistry must be respected.
Keep hearing #Warriors/JaVale McGee rumors. Nothing firm. But odd fit, with Dubs always raving about their `high basketball IQ' players.
— Monte Poole (@MontePooleNBCS) March 3, 2015
The Dubs sit at 46-12 despite playing 10 of their last 11 games on the road. They’ve got the best record in the West, a deep bench and candidates for nearly every individual award the league will hand out in a few months. In a best-case scenario, McGee shows his true mettle in the perfect environment.
But what about the worst-case scenario where he has to back up Bogut at the center spot, underwhelms like he has for the past three years and Steve Kerr winds up giving him too many minutes out of necessity?
Next: Pro: Only Use Him If You Need Him