JaVale McGee thinks $700 million worth Jeanie Buss-owned Lakers traded him citing $4M salary
JaVale McGee thinks his nearly $4 million salary may have played a role in the LA Lakers trading him after winning the 2020 NBA championship.
McGee was the starting center next to Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Their chemistry seemed off the charts, but in the hopes of getting even better, LA moved on from several players. McGee was on that list, which included starting small forward Danny Green, Rajon Rondo and backup center Dwight Howard.
On Howard's podcast on Tuesday, McGee reflected on how things ended with the Lakers, who are owned by Jeanie Buss, whose net worth is $700 million (Celebrity Net Worth).
"Maybe they [Lakers] were like overthinking for real," JaVale McGee said.
He used a gambling reference to describe how the Lakers went 'all-in' on trying to upgrade their roster and didn't succeed.
One of the co-guests, Aron Cohen, asked if there was a money issue that fueled his departure, to which McGee replied:
"I was making $4 million a year bro, definitely had to do with my money."
JaVale McGee was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Alfonzo McKinnie and Jordan Bell. He was still a productive piece at the center position, fitting well within the team's schemes as a rim protector and lob threat with LeBron James on the ball.
However, the Lakers preferred Marc Gasol and then Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell for their center rotation over McGee and Howard to modernize their offense.
Gasol was a floor spacer and could marginally reduce LeBron James' playmaking burden. He was also a high-IQ defensive threat.
How did Lakers fare after parting with JaVale McGee and other core players from 2020 championship team?
The LA Lakers' retooling plans didn't work out, with Anthony Davis missing the majority of the year with an injury. LA eventually reinforced its center depth with Andre Drummond, who also failed to deliver. The Lakers lost in the first round to the Phoenix Suns, failing to defend their title.
Many felt moving on from Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee had backfired on the Lakers after their issues stemmed at the center spot. Although they were the best defensive team that year, Davis' prolonged absence hurt their rebounding. Marc Gasol and Montrezl Harell were also not as efficient in that area of the game.
Drummond resolved those woes to some extent, but his lack of offense and sense of spacing to let LeBron James and Anthony Davis operate in the lane made him a misfit.