Mavs to Cut JaVale McGee, Re-Sign Markieff Morris; Details
For the entire offseason, the Dallas Mavericks have been widely expected to either trade or waive JaVale McGee before training camp begins. According to multiple reports on Tuesday, the Mavs are expected to stretch-and-waive McGee before the Aug. 31 deadline.
McGee is still owed $11.7 million with two years remaining on his current contract, and the Mavs will be stretching that amount over a five-year period for a salary cap hit of $2.4 million per season.
After initially being named the Mavs’ starting center to start the 2022-23 season, head coach Jason Kidd quickly realized that move wasn’t going to work out. McGee was moved to the bench after the first few weeks and ended up playing in 42 games, averaging 4.4 points and 2.5 rebounds.
Waiving McGee was expected, but the planned move following that one wasn’t. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Mavs are planning to re-sign Markieff Morris after they move on from McGee. Morris was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in the blockbuster Kyrie Irving trade from February.
Morris only appeared in eight games for the Mavs after the trade. In the final two games of the season, Morris got extended run and averaged 11.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in those two outings. The veteran forward will turn 34 years old next month.
Update: Marc Stein is now reporting that Morris’ impending deal with the Mavs would a non-guaranteed contract, which essentially means he is receiving a training camp invitation.
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