No.1 JaVale McGee will get paid
No, he will not be traded. He is going to sign a two or three-year deal starting at about five million dollars a year because he will have some suitors if he keeps this up. The Lakers may want to figure out a way to extend this guy as soon as possible. Forget LeBron James, if this guy gets hurt or in foul trouble, the Lakers defense will collapse. Out of all the Lakers on the roster, JaVale McGee has accepted his role and done so with purpose.
JaVale McGee scored 16 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and blocked five shots. Oh, he came in to the arena dressed as “The Grinch” but he wasn’t stealing Christmas, he was stealing shots and sending them the other way. Oh by the way he stole Dennis Smith Jr.’s game too, because he was terrible.
🎥 JaVale drops 16 points, while grabbing 15 boards in the Lakers win over Dallas pic.twitter.com/sAH8SHoAw6
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 1, 2018
What makes McGee so valuable to the Lakers is he is enjoying being a Laker, but he is making the sacrifice to make everyone else better. He’s doing the dirty work. He’s taking the professionalism that he learned with the World Champs and is being consistent. Plus he does not need to ball to be effective on offense. When his man rotates to stop dribble penetration, he just goes to the front of the rim…
https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1057856374720229376
In this play, you will see Lonzo Ball and JaVale play the high pick and roll. Lonzo draws two players, Dennis Smith Jr. and DeAndre Jordan to him. Does JaVale stand and watch the action? No. He stays in the play and follows Ball to the basket. With Ball being the willing passer with good instincts, hits JaVale with the pass and everyone else is screaming to the two Mavs players…WATCH YOUR HEAD!
On this play…
https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1057838807406374914
LeBron James hits Brandon Ingram with a behind the back pass. Brandon Ingram draws DeAndre Jordan to him, JaVale McGee rolls to the basket again and JaVale drops the hammer again. Notice the activity of JaVale. He starts at the three point line.
Playing with LeBron James requires moving without the ball. You see here that JaVale McGee doesn’t have this problem.
Speaking of players enjoying being a Laker.