Los Angeles Lakers: Why JaVale McGee won't be a Laker in 2021

Los Angeles Lakers: Why JaVale McGee won’t be a Laker in 2021

By Jason Reed | Oct 20, 2020

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 05: JaVale McGee #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers attempts a shot against Steven Adams #12 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 05, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. JaVale McGee is a declining asset

JaVale McGee was fine during the season as the team’s starting center. He certainly did not blow anyone away and he was not getting a huge share of the minutes as he and Dwight Howard had an almost perfect 50/50 split in playing time.

However, the longer the season went on the less and less McGee was utilized. He was really bad during the eight seeding games and his poor play continued into the NBA Playoffs. It became obvious fairly quickly that Howard was the better and more talented option for LA.

Howard is simply more dynamic near the rim and is a far better defensive player than McGee. McGee is a great player to eat minutes during the regular season but he was exposed as a matchup liability when it really mattered in the playoffs.

McGee scored a grand total of 41 points in 135 minutes in the NBA Playoffs this year. He was a negative on the offensive end (posting a negative offensive box plus-minus) and did not offer anything more than Dwight Howard could not do to justify playing him.

McGee is not getting any younger and after seeing how he played in the NBA Playoffs, it does not make a lot of sense to waste a roster spot for someone who is unusable when it matters — especially when there is a much better option available.

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