On August 30, Beijing time, the Lone Ranger officially announced that they had laid off McGee. After the clarification period, McGee can join a new team. Multiple teams of reporters saw the 35-year-old center as a worthy candidate, and Haynes followed up with reports that the Kings were interested in signing him. Lakers reporter Trevor Lane acknowledged that McGee is also one of the Lakers' potential options.
McGee signed a three-year, $17.2 million contract with the Lone Ranger on July 9, 2022, but only played one season for the Lone Ranger, and the team decided to cut him. In the 2022-23 season, McGee played 42 games for the Lone Ranger, starting seven of them. He averaged 4.4 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 64 percent from the field.
McGee has played 15 seasons in the NBA and played for 8 teams: Wizards, Nuggets, 76ers, Mavericks, Warriors, Lakers, Cavaliers, Suns. He won two championships with the Warriors and one with the Lakers. Among them, he played for the Lakers in two seasons, averaging 9.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, which performed well.
Salary expert Bobby Marks said McGee has $11.7 million left on his contract, and the Lone Ranger will pay McGee this money over 5 years, which is $2348324 a year. August 31, local time, is the deadline for the Lone Rangers to use extended payments, and they also cut McGee before this date. The operation also puts the Lone Ranger's current salary below the luxury tax line of $5.5 million. According to previous reports, the Lone Ranger will renew the contract of Markieffe Morris, and the Lone Ranger's roster will become 15+2, and there is still a spot on the two-way contract.
The Kings are interested in McGee, will he return to play for the Lakers? In response, Lakers reporter Trevor Lane wrote: "The Mavericks cut Javier McGee, who is not the best option in the Lakers center market, but is still a potential option. Should the Lakers leave the 14th spot to him, or continue to wait for Wood and/or Biyombo? Earlier, Lakers general manager Pelinka confirmed that the team intends to sign a big man with a 14th spot.
Source: Rowe says NBA