Mavs Ex JaVale McGee: 'No Real Reason' for Dallas Disappointment
Sometimes breakups between NBA teams and players can be messy. We saw multiple examples of that over the offseason, as Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers went through a dramatic divorce that ended up with the superstar guard being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Dallas Mavericks experienced a messy breakup as well, as Christian Wood, after not receiving any offers from Dallas or any other team, ended up signing a veteran's minimum contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Words from both Wood and Mavs owner Mark Cuban over the summer made it appear as if there was some bad blood.
All that said, not every player departure has to be filled with drama. Last summer, the Mavs signed JaVale McGee to a three-year, $17 million contract with hopes of him being a stop-gap starting center ... or at the very least, a steady veteran option to bring off the bench. Unfortunately for both McGee and the Mavs, none of that materialized, and Dallas waived the 15-year veteran in September.
JaVale McGee rises for an easy dunk in the Dallas Mavericks' game against the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2022-23 season.
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
McGee didn't stay on the free-agency market long, though, as he signed a deal to join the up-and-coming Sacramento Kings, who ended the longest playoff drought in professional sports last season. During Sacramento's Media Day, McGee gave his thoughts on why things didn't work out in Dallas, and it appears that he holds no ill will toward his former team.
"It was just [us going] separate ways, that's all it really was," McGee said. "There was no real reason that I can pinpoint to why. It just didn't work out. ... Maybe I was supposed to sign that contract to go [to Dallas] and then end up here [in Sacramento] and win my fourth championship, you never know."
Although McGee's on-court contributions never panned out for the Mavs, he always appeared to be in great spirits when seen cheering on his teammates from the bench. Taking the high road after being waived is a sign of a true professional, and it's a quality that will continue to keep the three-time champion in the league for at least a few more seasons.
