2019 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
JaVale McGee: 2 years, $8.2 million (Los Angeles Lakers)
JaVale McGee has agreed to return to the Lakers, where he’ll likely start at center, league sources tell ESPN. It’s a two-year, $8.2 million deal, with a player option.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 6, 2019
Lost in all the disappointment of the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 2018-19 campaign was the solid play of JaVale McGee, starting at center in 62 of his 75 appearances and averaging a career-high 12.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.
The Lakers would probably be better off playing Anthony Davis at the 5 and surrounding him and LeBron James with 3-point shooters, but at this stage in free agency, finding a starting-caliber point guard may be an impossible task. Instead, they’ll likely utilize LeBron’s point forward skills more than ever, with AD at the 4 and McGee manning the 5-spot.
McGee is an efficient finisher, shooting 62.4 percent from the field last year, and he’s a regular lob threat and crasher on the offensive glass. With so many solid options off the board in free agency already, pivoting from Kawhi Leonard to signing McGee to a short-term deal is a solid move — even if Friday night’s events were still disappointing overall.
Grade: B-