Just two days after being waived by the Dallas Mavericks, veteran center JaVale McGee has found a new home in Sacramento with the Kings. This move comes as the Kings are looking to bolster their roster following a remarkable breakthrough season that saw them secure a playoff spot as the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed, ending a league-record 16-year postseason drought.
McGee’s arrival in Sacramento is expected to provide valuable depth behind the team’s All-Star big man, Domantas Sabonis, making the Kings an even more formidable force in the Western Conference.
It’s worth noting that just a year ago, the Dallas Mavericks had signed JaVale McGee to a three-year contract with the intention of him being a starter. He did indeed start seven of the first nine games for the Mavericks but found himself falling out of the rotation approximately a month into the season, resulting in limited playing time for the remainder of the year. Unfortunately, the Mavericks missed the postseason, a stark contrast to their Western Conference Finals appearance the previous year.
In his 42 appearances for the Mavericks last season, McGee averaged 4.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Over the course of his 15-year NBA career, he boasts career averages of 7.8 points and 5.2 rebounds, making him a seasoned and reliable presence in the league.
McGee had notably delivered a productive campaign for the Phoenix Suns during the 2021-22 season, where he averaged 16 minutes across 74 games, including 17 starts, helping the Suns reach the second round of the playoffs.
This signing is especially significant for the Kings, as McGee brings with him a wealth of experience and a winning pedigree. As a three-time NBA champion, having won twice with the Golden State Warriors as a valuable backup and starting 68 regular-season games for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2019-20 season, McGee’s championship experience could prove invaluable to a Kings team looking to make a deeper playoff run.
Despite not playing in the NBA Finals when the Lakers triumphed over the Miami Heat in the playoff bubble, McGee’s presence on and off the court is expected to have a positive impact on the Kings’ roster.
In the wake of his release from the Dallas Mavericks, JaVale McGee’s decision to sign with the Sacramento Kings on a one-year guaranteed minimum contract marks the beginning of a new chapter in his illustrious career. For Kings fans and basketball enthusiasts alike, McGee’s arrival in Sacramento promises to add depth and championship experience to a team on the rise in the competitive Western Conference. With the 2023-24 NBA season on the horizon, the Kings and their fans eagerly anticipate what McGee can bring to the court as they aim to build upon last season’s success and make a deeper playoff push.