3 Players the LA Clippers Should Hope Get Bought Out
LA Clippers Buyout Wish List #3: JaVale McGee
Another former Laker, the LA Clippers should be very excited about the possibility of JaVale McGee being bought out. JaVale would give the Clippers a third big who can play solid interior defense and be a threat as a rim runner.
McGee would be a presence under the rim who can block shots and intimidate drivers, and he could replace a little bit of the Lou/Trezz pick and roll game that hasn’t quite been there with Zubac. Forcing defenses to decide between guarding Lou in the midrange or blocking off an alley-oop or dunk from Javale would be putting the PNR defenders in a tough spot.
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After winning a championship with the Lakers, McGee got shipped off to the Cleveland Cavaliers when Marc Gasol wanted to come to Los Angeles. After the offseason ended, the Cavs ended up having Jarrett Allen, JaVale McGee, Andre Drummond, Larry Nance, Jr. and Kevin Love, along with some project bigs. That’s far too many chefs in the kitchen, and you have to expect that somebody’s getting bought out.
It’s not going to be Jarrett Allen or Larry Nance, so that leaves JaVale, Drummond or Love. JaVale’s the obvious candidate, given that the other two are on huge contracts. That said, the biggest issue isn’t “will JaVale get bought out?” which seems like almost a given. The issue would be convincing JaVale to come to the LA Clippers.
You have to imagine that, as soon as McGee hits the market, the Brooklyn Nets are tossing money at him. Given that the financial offers would be similar, his decision would likely come down to the question of his role. With LA, he’d be looking at a spot as the third center, behind Zu and Serge. He’d be very well qualified for that and would help push the Clippers a step higher.
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But with Brooklyn, he might be the best center on a team which started Jeff Green at center when we played them. The LA Clippers would have to find a way to convince JaVale that he’s better off as a backup here than as a likely starter there.