Free-agent center Javale Mcgee will return to the NBA champion Golden State Warriors after all. According to Chris Haynes of ESPN, the Warriors and McGee agreed to a one-year deal with a veteran’s minimum salary. After the agreement, McGee posted on his Instagram account a photo of him and sixth man Andre Iguodala, who also remained with the Warriors via a three-year, $48 million deal.
Last year, McGee joined the Warriors on a non-guaranteed contract and made the final roster spot out of training camp. He provided quality minutes for coach Steve Kerr off the bench, averaging 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 77 regular-season games.
Earlier, Kerr said the team was reserving the 15th and last spot for McGee if he decided to return for another title run. With McGee on board, the Warriors’ roster is now complete.
With the Warriors, McGee rejuvenated his sluggish career after forgettable stints with the Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Dallas Mavericks, where he played a combined 62 games from 2013 to 2016. In May, the 29-year-old McGee told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated that last season was a redemption year for him as he was given a huge opportunity to show his ability and help a team win at the same time.
McGee’s return to Warriors a big surprise
McGee’s return to the Warriors came as a surprise, as he was expected to accept lucrative deals from other teams, such as the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Clippers.
It was also reported that McGee was unhappy with the Warriors after they signed fellow center Zaza Pachulia and free-agent shooting guard Nick Young to $3.5 million and $5.2 million contracts, respectively.
According to Marcus Thompson II of The Mercury News, McGee was infuriated with the Warriors for giving Young the mid-level exception instead of using it on him.
The Warriors earlier stated that they want to sign McGee but only to a veteran’s minimum deal worth around $2.1 million.
Durant’s sacrifice helped Warriors sign key players
The Warriors created enough cap space to keep key free agents such as Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, and backup power forward David West after Kevin Durant signed a contract $9 million below the maximum salary level.
Durant inked a two-year deal worth $53 million weeks after winning his first NBA title. Durant can demand as much as $34.5 million per season, but with the new deal, he will earn just $25 million in the first year with a player option in the second year.
