Source: McGee passes on Celtics

by **112288** Thu Mar 05, 2015 3:43 pm

Source: McGee passes on Celtics

Updated: March 5, 2015, 2:55 PM ET >By Jeff Goodman | ESPN.com

Talks between the Boston Celtics and 7-footer JaVale McGee have fallen apart Thursday afternoon, a source told ESPN.com.

However, a league source told CSNNE.com there is a chance that the sides will revisit talks.

After Celtics general manager Danny Ainge acknowledged earlier Thursday that the two sides were close to a deal, a source told ESPN.com that it unraveled when McGee wanted a player option for next season while the Celtics wanted a team option.

McGee, 27, was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday after the franchise acquired him at the trade deadline from the Denver Nuggets.

JaVale McGee has averaged 4.6 points and 2.7 rebounds this season for Philadelphia and Denver.

He has averaged 4.6 points and 2.7 rebounds this season in 23 games -- 17 with the Nuggets and six with Philadelphia.

The Celtics (24-35) are 11th in the Eastern Conference standings but only two games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the eighth playoff spot.

"JaVale is a long, athletic guy, and we don't have that type of player -- an above-the-rim offensive and defensive player," Ainge said earlier Thursday during his weekly appearance on Boston sports radio 98.5 The Sports Hub. "He's been paid a lot of money in our league, had some injuries, hasn't lived up to his potential yet, and we're hoping that he can under [Celtics coach Brad Stevens'] tutelage.

"I think he's in a good place, emotionally and mentally, and he really wants to get his career on the right path."

However, that path apparently will be with another team.

The Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors have been mentioned as possible landing spots for McGee, who would be eligible to play in the postseason because he was waived before the playoff-eligibility deadline.

Philadelphia ultimately agreed to release McGee without forcing him to surrender any salary. He had roughly $3 million left from his $11.25 million salary this season when the Sixers acquired him and is owed $12 million next season.

112288

by **112288** Thu Mar 05, 2015 3:46 pm

That was quick! The old turnstile strategy!

112288

by **tjmakz** Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:01 pm

112288 wrote:That was quick! The old turnstile strategy!

112288

Chris Paul was a Laker for way longer than McGee was a Celtic. :-)

This actually would have been a very good signing for Boston.
But it makes no sense for him to sign a team option for next season.
I can see why this deal fizzled.
It's hard to imagine that a playoff contender wouldn't want McGee.

by **112288** Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:14 pm

TJ

I think it is the same reason why the deal failed in Boston > he wants a player option and other playoff teams do not want to give that. If he does not sign, Philly obligated to pay his salary next year of $12 million.

If he wants to get prime money and PLAY he needs to take the Celtics offer and play everyday and prove he is worth that type of money. He is damaged goods as we speak. Sitting on the bench on a playoff team that is just renting him for insurance does not show case his talent and set him up for another major deal.

112288

by **dboss** Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:13 pm

And we all that he had a low basketball IQ

dboss

by **tjmakz** Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:18 pm

112288 wrote:TJ

I think it is the same reason why the deal failed in Boston > he wants a player option and other playoff teams do not want to give that. If he does not sign, Philly obligated to pay his salary next year of $12 million.

If he wants to get prime money and PLAY he needs to take the Celtics offer and play everyday and prove he is worth that type of money. He is damaged goods as we speak. Sitting on the bench on a playoff team that is just renting him for insurance does not show case his talent and set him up for another major deal.

112288

Philly is obligated to pay his complete salary this year and next year regardless of how much he signs for.
There is no reduction in Philly's financial requirement to McGee if he signs with another team.
The only time the waiving team doesn't have to pay a player is if he doesn't clear waivers (like what happened with Tariq Black when the Lakers plucked him from waivers from Houston) or when a player is amnestied, the amnestying team gets a dollar for dollar reduction/credit for how much the amnesty claim is for him.
McGee cleared waivers. Philly is responsible for every dollar.

Don't you think McGee would want to be on a playoff contender for the experience or hopes of winning a championship?
McGee could sign with the Lakers today (because Robert Sacre is not an NBA center) and get as many minutes as he wants, but he's not going to possibly play great ball, then be stuck on a team option at the minimum salary. That makes no sense for him. He very well could earn $4m to $5m next season.

by **bobheckler** Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:37 pm

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--celtics--talks-with-javale-mcgee-fall-through-because-of-contract-option-201256495.html

Sources: Celtics’ talks with JaVale McGee fall through because of contract option
Adrian Wojnarowski By Adrian Wojnarowski
2 hours ago
Yahoo Sports


Talks on a deal between the Boston Celtics and free-agent center JaVale McGee fell apart when the sides couldn’t agree on control of the player’s contract option for the 2015-16 season, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

McGee visited the Celtics this week and had been inclined to sign there, only to have his agent, B.J. Armstrong, and Celtics general manager Danny Ainge become unable to move past that deal point on Thursday afternoon.

For McGee, the plan is to sign a deal that provides him with a player option on the 2015-16 season – something teams, including Boston, would prefer to be a team option. That way, if McGee plays well, teams won’t be so vulnerable to lose him this summer.

McGee had courted interest from multiple playoff contenders, including the Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Toronto general manager Masai Ujiri signed McGee to a $48 million extension in Denver, and remains interested in offering him an opportunity to join the Raptors for a playoff run, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Nevertheless, McGee’s insistence on holding onto his freedom for the 2015-16 season could cause some teams to resist committing to him for the rest of this year and the playoffs.

McGee has shown promise in his career to be one of the NBA’s better centers, but injuries and inconsistent play have curbed his progress.

The Sixers completed a deal for McGee on Feb. 19, acquiring with him Oklahoma City’s 2015 first-round draft pick that the Nuggets had secured in a trade with Cleveland earlier this season. Philadelphia waived him on Sunday, giving McGee the chance to sign with another team and be eligible for the playoffs.

McGee has had two consecutive injury-plagued seasons, and has a contract that owes him $11.2 million this season and $12 million in the 2015-16 season. Denver had to deliver the first-round pick to make it palatable for the Sixers to take on McGee’s contract.

bob

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by **112288** Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:47 pm

Thanks for clarifying his salary.

On the second note of playing for a contender. Where does that leave him next year and the year after etc? He needs to show proof of his abilities as a basketball player this year and next to receive another opportunity at signing a big contarct. The only way to do so is to play significant minutes and not play garbage minutes sitting at the end of the bench.

If he goes to a contender, he would not be stepping into a starting role nor garner significant time off the bench. A contending team such as the teams mentioned are not going to alter their winning synergy by using a new player this late in the season in their rotations > especially with a player who has a label on himself as having a small BB IQ. There are exceptions and the only exception would be if someone gets hurt.

He is damaged goods at this point and if this handlers (manager/agent) had any sense, they would want to show case his skills during extended full time and prime time minutes to prove he is not a bust. The Celtics are that team and let me add, a potential playoff team.

By playing for the Celtics for this year and next, this sets him up for at least 4-6 years of achieving a significant top contract and salary.

Playing a limited part time role on a contender will not achieve that goal.

It is a no lose situation for him. If he plays on a contender limited minutes he will never get another big contract. If he plays on the Celtics and is a bust, so be it. He winds up in the same place as the first scenario playing for a contending team. But if he does well.......the sky is the limit!

That is how I see it.

112288

by **bobheckler** Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:58 pm

McGee's agent is former Bulls player BJ Armstrong.

Here's Armstrong's client list. Not particularly impressive, with a few exceptions like Derrick Rose and Al Horford, and a lot of them are unrestricted free agents. Draymond Green is gonna make a lot of money next year, unless BJ screws it up. Only 8 NBA players out of 22, and one of those is the currently unemployed Javale McGee.

http://basketball.realgm.com/info/agent-client-list/BJ-Armstrong/102

Player Team Pos Height Weight Birth Date Age Contractual Status YOS
Billy Baron Lietuvos Rytas G 6-2 195 Dec 11, 1990 24 Unrestricted Free Agent 0
Jimmy Baron Banvit Basketbol Kulubu G 6-3 195 May 23, 1986 28 Unrestricted Free Agent 0
Ben Brust Pieno Zvaigzdes SG 6-1 195 Oct 3, 1991 23 Unrestricted Free Agent 0
Jahii Carson KK Metalac Valjevo PG 5-11 180 Aug 31, 1992 22 Unrestricted Free Agent 0
Dion Dixon Homenetmen Beirut SG 6-3 195 Dec 24, 1989 25 Unrestricted Free Agent 0
Matt Gatens Aykon TED Kolejliler Ankara G 6-5 210 Jun 13, 1989 25 Unrestricted Free Agent 0
Jerami Grant Philadelphia Sixers SF 6-8 210 Mar 12, 1994 20 Philadelphia Sixers, Sep 29, 2014 0
Draymond Green Golden State Warriors PF 6-7 230 Mar 4, 1990 24 Golden State Warriors, Aug 8, 2012 2
Al Horford Atlanta Hawks C/PF 6-10 250 Jun 3, 1986 28 Atlanta Hawks, Nov 1, 2010 7
Oliver Lafayette Olympiacos G 6-3 190 May 6, 1984 30 Unrestricted Free Agent 1
Doron Lamb Westchester Knicks SG 6-4 200 Nov 6, 1991 23 Unrestricted Free Agent 2
Devyn Marble Orlando Magic GF 6-6 200 Sep 21, 1992 22 Orlando Magic, Jul 24, 2014 0
JaVale McGee N/A C/PF 7-0 252 Jan 19, 1988 27 Unrestricted Free Agent 6
Gary McGhee Ribeira Sacra CB Breogan Lugo C 6-11 250 Oct 28, 1988 26 Unrestricted Free Agent 0
Fab Melo Paulistano C 7-0 255 Jun 20, 1990 24 Unrestricted Free Agent 1
Derrick Rose Chicago Bulls PG 6-3 190 Oct 4, 1988 26 Chicago Bulls, Dec 21, 2011 6
Jarred Shaw Ankara DSI Era FC 6-10 235 Sep 28, 1990 24 Unrestricted Free Agent 0
Nolan Smith Delaware 87ers PG 6-2 190 Jul 25, 1988 26 Unrestricted Free Agent 2
Jason Terry Houston Rockets SG/PG 6-2 180 Sep 15, 1977 37 Houston Rockets, Jul 17, 2012 15
Trey Thompkins BC Nizhny Novgorod PF 6-10 245 May 29, 1990 24 Unrestricted Free Agent 2
Greivis Vasquez Toronto Raptors PG 6-6 200 Jan 16, 1987 28 Toronto Raptors, Jul 15, 2014 4

bob

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by **112288** Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:58 pm

He'll be back. I would give him a base salary and incentive laced contract at Celtics option next year so he can earn significant dollars.

His agent should have no problems with that.

112288

by **Sam** Thu Mar 05, 2015 7:42 pm

Good idea about the incentives, 112288. Although I'm not sure how incentives work under the cap.

Sam

by **bobheckler** Thu Mar 05, 2015 7:57 pm

If Ryan Hollins can get picked up by LAC for a playoff run, Javale McGee sure as hell can. He won't be back. At least not this year.

Hope I'm wrong.

bob

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by **112288** Thu Mar 05, 2015 8:10 pm

Mc Gee was interested in signing with the Celtics because it was the only deal that was in front of him to sign.

If he had another deal with a playoff team...he would have signed it already.

112288

by **Sam** Thu Mar 05, 2015 8:17 pm

Danny's persistent. Who knows what might happen?

I wonder how much McGee and/or B.J. Armstrong places on the opportunity JaVale would have to show to best advantage as a Celtic, given the combination of their needs and their coach's track record of helping guys advance their careers.

Sam

by **112288** Thu Mar 05, 2015 8:26 pm

Sam,

Not sure about how incentives would work but it would not be as large as you may think as no one is going to offer this guy anything until he proves himself.

I am glad Danny stood firm....I mean McGee gets major playing time to show case himself....take away from other young players and he can walk if he chooses next year......ya right......do I have a bridge to sell you!

112288

by **bobheckler** Thu Mar 05, 2015 8:55 pm

Now you see him, now you don't...

Source: McGee passes on Celtics B_W63kMXAAA9XXm

bob

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by **kdp59** Thu Mar 05, 2015 9:53 pm

keeping my fingers crossed!!

please go away McGee....far, far away!

by **dboss** Fri Mar 06, 2015 10:09 am

He wants the $12 mill next year. That is a lot of money. Would any of you give up that option?

Dboss

by **beat** Fri Mar 06, 2015 10:20 am

dboss wrote:He wants the $12 mill next year. That is a lot of money. Would any of you give up that option?

Dboss

I believe Philly is required to pay him 12 MILL next year regardless.....even if he signs on to another team for whatever........he is not giving up anything but the chance to prove he can contribute at a high level.

beat

by **kdp59** Fri Mar 06, 2015 11:25 am

I thought any pay he gets comes OFF the pay Philly has to pay him.

so if he gets $1M next year, Philly has to pay OPNLY $11M (all to get a late first round pick?).

wow.

by **Outside** Fri Mar 06, 2015 12:20 pm

kdp59 wrote:I thought any pay he gets comes OFF the pay Philly has to pay him.

so if he gets $1M next year, Philly has to pay OPNLY $11M (all to get a late first round pick?).

wow.

kdp,

That is correct, but I believe Beat's point is that he's going to get paid $12 million next season, regardless of what contract he agrees to with another team or whether he signs with anyone at all. Beat was responding to the implication in dboss's post ("He wants the $12 mill next year. That is a lot of money. Would any of you give up that option?") that McGee needs to negotiate the best deal possible in order to get the $12 million.

Money wasn't the issue. Control was the issue -- whether McGee had the player option, meaning he gets to decide whether to stay with Boston next season, or Boston had the team option, meaning they get to decide whether to keep him.

by **beat** Fri Mar 06, 2015 12:23 pm

Outside

You make a good interpreter

beat

by **Outside** Fri Mar 06, 2015 1:31 pm

Beat, now if I can only become fluent in wifespeak. Every time I try to translate it, I get into trouble.

by **bobheckler** Fri Mar 06, 2015 1:35 pm

Outside wrote:Beat, now if I can only become fluent in wifespeak. Every time I try to translate it, I get into trouble.

outside,

Simplicity is the soul of efficacy. Just smile and nod.

bob

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by **tjmakz** Fri Mar 06, 2015 2:03 pm

kdp59 wrote:I thought any pay he gets comes OFF the pay Philly has to pay him.

so if he gets $1M next year, Philly has to pay OPNLY $11M (all to get a late first round pick?).

wow.

kdp,

Philly was millions of dollars from reaching the salary cap minimum this season. So they might as well get a 1st round pick for adding salary for which they had to do.

Philly will not get a reduction from the $12m for next season even if another team signs him.

Josh Smith received $13.5m from Detroit this season AND another $2m+ from Houston.

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