Mavericks Sign Suns Center To 3-Year Deal

The Dallas Mavericks have signed free agent center JaVale McGee to a three-year, $20.1 million deal. The contract includes a player option in the third year.

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

Dallas gets their man at center with the veteran McGee. The 34-year-old played with the Phoenix Suns last season, the same team the Mavericks eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. 

In 74 games with the Suns, McGee averaged 9.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. He started in 17 games, where he averaged 10.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest.

McGee has done a great job in turning his career around after playing with the Shaqtin' A Fool stigma during the early days of his career with the Washington Wizards. 

Since joining the Warriors in 2016-17, McGee has become a reliable veteran big man off the bench for several contending teams. He won two titles as a member of Golden State, then another as a member of 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers.

McGee served as Nikola Jokic's backup in the second half of the 2020-21 season and then became the primary reserve for Deandre Ayton with the Suns the following campaign.

With the Mavericks, he should thrive playing alongside a world-class playmaker like Luka Doncic. Despite being 34 years old, McGee is still capable of finishing lobs at the rim, which makes him a great fit with the Mavs superstar.

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