07-12-2023, 08:30 AM
(07-11-2023, 11:26 PM)cow Wrote: I actually think the desire to dump him is pretty simple. Luka has no use for him. He disrespected him JaVale before the season started. Remember the whole "Joel" thing? I'm not trying to make excuses for McGee, he was mostly bad with his time on the court but I don't think he was given a fair shake, made worse by the idiotic contract he was given.
Luka not wanting you is enough to get you jettisoned, lord knows we've witnessed that a few times already, bad play is the cherry on top.
Both the Wood and McGee stints last year imply something very dysfunctional in the roster chemistry and behind the scenes locker room dynamics with last years teams.
Without concluding blame, Wood showed way more talent offensively and even some real bursts of defensive effort than his current vet minimum market value indicates. In his case though, its a multi-team pattern at this point.
McGee on the other hand is even more curious to me. His is a 3x NBA champion that Dallas evidently misused the 1st time under Carlisle only to watch him leave and contribute to NBA championships with TWO other teams!
They then bring him back under a new coach and promise him a starting center role!
Head coach Jason Kidd names JaVale McGee Dallas Mavericks starting center
Quote:Reports quickly began to surface that McGee would be the team’s starting center next season. The Mavericks traded for Christian Wood during the NBA Finals, but Dallas appeared committed to starting the two side by side in the frontcourt.
Head coach Jason Kidd confirmed that McGee would be the team’s starting five next season during an interview on ESPN from the Las Vegas Summer League. Here is a look at why that should not come as a surprise.
As bad as his minutes/stats might suggest McGee, I recall dropping in on a game or two where McGee logged minutes and showed some serious burst, indicating he hadn't exactly lost all his athleticism. Was a Phoenix game or one of the other late season in the balance games where he ended up being the post game interview for his almost-heroic late game defense and effort?
I recall coming into the season McGee publicly complained early on that the role they had him pegged for did not look like it was going to fit. Something went very wrong there based on what Dallas said when they signed him and the immediate results:
Quote:https://thesmokingcuban.com/posts/dallas...vale-mcgee
McGee's time in Dallas was a disaster. He averaged 4.4 points per game and lost his promised starting job quickly. Dallas signed him to a three-year, $17 million contract last summer and already wants to release him after one season. He didn't live up to his expectations and is likely worth a veteran's minimum contract at this point.
This was McGee's second stint in Dallas, and there is a big possibility that he never plays in a Mavericks jersey again. Dallas has to find a better option at center, and McGee doesn't seem to be included in their plans moving forward.
