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

By Jason Reed

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)
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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Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

3. JaVale McGee has a very valuable contract for trades

This is where the Los Angeles Lakers’ leverage comes into play. McGee can opt into the last year of his deal all he wants, the Lakers still have the power to include him in a trade. Of course, there is the chance of him opting out as he knows this might happen, but that still leads to the same end result: him no longer being in LA.

McGee is set to make $4.2 million next season, giving him the perfect salary for the Lakers to attach him in a trade to make the trade work financially under the league’s CBA. That $4.2 million could be attached to Kyle Kuzma for Derrick Rose or could be part of a bigger deal alongside Danny Green.

McGee is not an asset that other teams are going to be asking for but he is an asset that allows the trade to happen without restricting the other team in the long-term. As an expiring deal, that other team could simply let him play out the last year of his contract before free agency or could simply buy him out.

We see these kinds of pieces get included in trades all the time. McGee is the textbook example of this type of trade asset and the Lakers would not hesitate to include him in a trade for a single second if it means improving the team.

Next. Derrick Rose is a better target than Chris Paul. dark

So really, it becomes a matter of if McGee will opt-out or if the Los Angeles Lakers will trade him. Either way, there are reasons to believe that McGee’s days in LA are over.

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