PHOENIX SUNS

Former Suns C JaVale McGee reportedly agrees to deal with Mavericks

Jun 30, 2022, 4:46 PM | Updated: 4:52 pm

JaVale McGee #00 of the Phoenix Suns takes a free-throw shot during the second half of Game Two of ...

JaVale McGee #00 of the Phoenix Suns takes a free-throw shot during the second half of Game Two of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Footprint Center on April 19, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Pelicans defeated the Suns 125-114. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Former Phoenix Suns center JaVale McGee has agreed to a deal with the Dallas Mavericks, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports it is a three-year deal for McGee worth $20.1 million that includes a player option for the third year.

The 34-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Suns last offseason worth $5 million. McGee provided strong minutes to Phoenix’s center rotation behind Deandre Ayton, averaging 9.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game across just 15.8 minutes a night.

He quickly became a fan favorite thanks to his energy on the court and knack for a highlight play, oftentimes one you wouldn’t expect from a player of his size.

The best example of this was in the Western Conference semifinals when McGee stole the ball from Mavericks All-Star Luka Doncic and went coast-to-coast for a dunk.

McGee was an important signing for the Suns after backup center Dario Saric tore his ACL in Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals, leaving Phoenix in need of a replacement. The Suns also signed veteran Bismack Biyombo in the middle of the season after a knee injury kept Frank Kaminsky out since mid-November. Phoenix also used 2021 first-round pick Jalen Smith before trading him to Indiana as part of a deal for Torrey Craig.

Saric was the only Suns center entering the offseason under contract. Ayton is a restricted free agent while the contracts of McGee and Biyombo both expired. Kaminsky was waived shortly before the postseason in order for the Suns to add two-way wing Ish Wainright to the playoff roster.

McGee was the 18th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft to the Washington Wizards and spent his first four-plus seasons there. After two years with the Denver Nuggets, he spent time with the Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks before both teams released him. McGee’s career took a huge turn when he signed with the Golden State Warriors in 2016.

In Golden State, he not only earned a roster spot, but McGee showed he could develop into a reliable screen setter, diver and rim protector that would be a positive contributor on limited minutes for a contender. He won championships back-to-back years with the Warriors before leaving in free agency to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he would win the third title of his career in 2020.

McGee was traded by the Lakers to the Cleveland Cavaliers shortly before the 2020 season got underway and then was acquired by the Nuggets at the trade deadline the year before he signed with the Suns.

Phoenix Suns

Kevin Durant #35 and Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at ...

David Veenstra

Suns list Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal questionable for Friday’s game vs. Jazz

The Phoenix Suns listed Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal as questionable for Friday’s home game against the Utah Jazz.

5 hours ago

General manager James Jones of the Phoenix Suns talks during a press conference introducing Kevin D...

Brandon Cadiz

The 5: Most recent trade deadlines for Phoenix Suns under James Jones

The Phoenix Suns' last five trade deadlines is headlined by the acquisition of Kevin Durant in 2023. We revisit the last five deadlines.

8 hours ago

Upon the change in format to the NBA All-Star Game, the league had its captains draft their teams o...

David Veenstra

2025 NBA All-Star Draft results: Kevin Durant lands on Team Shaq

Upon the change in format to the NBA All-Star Game, the league had its captains draft their teams on Thursday. Kevin Durant landed on Team Shaq.

9 hours ago

Suns...

Damon Allred

After the trade deadline, where are the Phoenix Suns slated to pick in upcoming drafts?

The Suns again shuffled the decks of their future picks, and the lack of a bigger deal at Thursday's NBA trade deadline left them poised to make two selections in this summer's draft.

10 hours ago

Suns...

Kellan Olson

Suns unable to make big move at trade deadline with foreboding summer ahead

The Phoenix Suns wanted to make major moves at the trade deadline. They were not able to, and in some ways, were saved from themselves.

10 hours ago

NBA...

Alex Weiner

NBA trade deadline recap: Suns’ Western Conference competition make blockbuster moves

A jam-packed NBA trade deadline has passed, ending months of Phoenix Suns speculation while many teams in the West added to their rosters.

12 hours ago

Former Suns C JaVale McGee reportedly agrees to deal with Mavericks