The Dallas Mavericks have signed their first player of the 2022 offseason by getting veteran NBA center JaVale McGee to take a 3-year $20 million deal to come back to the Mavericks. McGee last played for the Mavs in the 2015-16 season but struggled with injuries and would leave the team at the end of the season. He has won 3 championships since with the Lakers and Warriors.
Despite losing Jalen Brunson earlier, the Mavericks have not prioritized his replacement and are still filling out their frontcourt pieces. Their lack of frontcourt depth cost them in the Playoffs. McGee becomes the second center the Mavs have added, with the team trading for Christian Wood prior to the 2022 NBA Draft.
McGee’s contract is just shy of the full tax-payer mid-level exception, as the Mavericks needed money left over to sign Jaden Hardy to a long-term contract. McGee is coming off a good season for the Phoenix Suns where he averaged 9.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks a game.
Free agent JaVale McGee has agreed to a three-year, $20.1 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks, with player option for third season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022
The addition of McGee and Wood means they will be competing for playing time with Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell. While many Mavs fans do like the 3-and-d nature of Kleber’s play style, Christian Wood’s superior offensive skill set may see him usurp Kleber in the rotation.
McGee is a rim protector and a good lob threat alongside Luka, meaning Dwight Powell will no longer be the starting center. There are rumors suggesting Powell gets moved to make room for the new players, but nothing has been officially substantiated.
The Mavericks are also interested in acquiring Matisse Thybulle from the 76ers and are in the Kyrie Irving and/or Kevin Durant sweepstakes, even though they may not have the draft assets to entice the Nets into a deal about one of those players, let alone two.
