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Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Summary
I was surprised by the Lakers' decision to give McGee a 2-year, $8.2 million contract with a player option last year. It's difficult considering I don't know what other offers were out there for McGee, but I certainly thought it was an overpay for a player that had only signed minimum contracts in recent seasons and didn't exactly light the world on fire in the '18-'19 season. However, it turns out that McGee has played well enough that he might even decline the $4.2 million option this offseason in order to get more than that on the open market.
McGee might not be the defender that his highlight blocks suggest he is, but those blocks do matter, and McGee is long enough to alter shots near the rim. Additionally, he allows the Lakers to be huge with Anthony Davis and Lebron James as the forwards. That length of the Lakers' starting lineup is a big reason for them having the third best defense in the NBA. McGee's real value comes on offense, where is is a true lob threat and has a good knack for finishing around the rim.
McGee didn't have a great playoffs, playing few minutes and falling out of the rotation in some games, so he may end up opting in. I expect his market value to be around his player option amount anyway, and would surprised if anyone was interested in signing him to a long-term deal.
Cap Considerations
McGee has a $4.2 million player option for next season, and if he declines that option he will be an unrestricted free agent with a $5.2 million cap hold and Early Bird Rights. If McGee is re-signed using Early Bird rights, the Lakers will be limited to paying him a starting salary of up to 105% of the average salary this past season (roughly $10 million), which should be more than enough. However, if the Lakers use Early Bird rights to re-sign McGee, he cannot sign a one-year deal. This would include a two-year deal with a player option, but a two-year deal with the second year non-guaranteed would be allowed. The Lakers could alternatively renounce McGee to a Non-Bird free agent, and re-sign him to a one-year deal using Non-Bird rights. However, they would be limited to 120% of his previous salary, so $4.8 million.
Teams other than the Lakers will have multiple ways to sign McGee, as even teams without cap space could possibly use any of the Non-Taxpayer, Taxpayer, or Room Mid-Level Exceptions to sign him.
Potential Teams: Lakers, Wizards, Hornets, Pistons, Raptors
Predicted Contract: Opt-In: $4.2 million
If opt out: 1-year, $4.8 million with the Lakers
Actual Contract: Opt-In: $4.2 million
McGee opted in as expected, but was traded to Cleveland in order for the Lakers to free up some space to use the full MLE.
Last updated: 12/31/2020
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