Three-time NBA champion and current Olympian JaVale McGee is heading to Phoenix.
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Denver Nuggets center and former Nevada Wolf Pack player JaVale McGee agreed to a one-year $5 million contract with the Phoenix Suns, per Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes.
The Suns are coming off an impressive run in the NBA playoffs and championship appearance. They lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals, with size and rim protection clearly lacking. McGee, a 7’0 center with a 7’6 wingspan, will fill that gap.
McGee began his NBA career as the 18th overall in the 2008 NBA Draft. He was selected by the Washington Wizards but since then he has also been with Denver, Philadelphia, Dallas, Golden State, Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland. His most recent team was the Nuggets, where his role was limited and he was a backup center.
Chris Paul told @YahooSports about the moment JaVale McGee caught his attention and how six meaningless minutes made a huge impression, resulting in the big man landing in Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/8SxHqXtHRB
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 3, 2021
Phoenix is considered one of the teams that are succeeding in the free agency period. Point guard Chris Paul will run it back as he secured a four-year deal that could be worth up to $120 million.
Olympics
McGee is currently in Tokyo playing with Team USA. The Americans punched their ticket to the Olympics men’s basketball semifinals with a 95-81 win against Spain on Tuesday.
Team USA will take on Australia on Thursday, Aug. 5, at 12:15 am ET.
