On November 23, Beijing time, according to ESPN fame Wenarowski reported that the Lakers traded McGee to the Cavaliers and also sent a future second round pick. Previously, McGee executed his $4.25 million player option this season. The Lakers got Bell and McKinney in the deal, which are non-guaranteed contracts that can be cut. Subsequently, Warnaroski reported that the Lakers have reached an agreement with Gasol Jr. that the 3-time All-Star center will join the Purple and Gold.
The Lakers upgraded McGee to Gasol Jr. through trades and signings. Gasol Jr. is a 3-time All-Star, with a three-point range, can also grab rebounds and guards, and has the ability to pass the ball with one hand, and his comprehensive strength is significantly stronger than McGee.
Salary expert Bobby Max noted that the Cavaliers received a $3.9 million trade exception through the trade, and the Lakers could only provide Gasol Jr. with a $2.7 million veteran base salary because their 9.3 million middle class exceptions and 3.6 million double-year exceptions were used.
Gasol Jr. has never played for the Lakers before, but he also has a lot of roots. In the 2007 draft, the Lakers selected Gasol Jr. with the second round No. 48, and then completed a deal for Gasol Jr. on February 1, 2008, when Gasol Jr.'s signing rights were also one of the trading chips.
In the 2008-09 season, Gasol Jr. officially landed in the NBA and started his NBA career, playing for the Grizzlies and Raptors, and in 2019, he helped the Raptors win the first championship in team history. Now, the 35-year-old Gasol Jr. has finally returned to the Lakers who originally selected him, and joined forces with James to attack the 2021 championship.
In the 2019-20 regular season, McGee averaged 16.6 minutes per game, 6.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks, and averaged 9.6 minutes per game in the playoffs, with 2.9 points and 3.1 rebounds. Gasol Jr. averaged 26.4 minutes, 7.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists, and averaged 20.7 minutes per game in the playoffs, contributing 6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists.