The Los Angeles Lakers look to be back at it again this offseason as they are reportedly the frontrunners together with the Dallas Mavericks in landing free agent center JaVale McGee.
McGee has played in only three teams in the NBA in his seven-year career and these teams are the Washington Wizards, Denver Nuggets, and the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 27-year-old player enjoyed most success with the Wizards and was doing fine when he was traded to the Nuggets until injuries started to slow him down. He was then traded to the 76ers last February, only playing six games for the team before getting waived.
There is no doubt McGee is a talented player and would be a great addition to a team looking for a rim protector; but injuries and sometimes his mental lapses when it comes to plays are overshadowing his game.
Nevertheless, the Lakers seem interested in McGee who will likely be a backup to newly acquired center and former All-Star Roy Hibbert.
Hibbert is definitely a great addition for Los Angeles this offseason; but he is the only prominent big man in that roster as the team is without a solid backup for him.
If the Lakers would stick to the current players on their roster, 6-foot-9-inch Tarik Black and Robert Sacre are the best options they have as a substitute for Hibbert.
Black is huge when it comes to his built but he is smaller than the average height for a center in the league. Meanwhile, Sacre has not really done anything significant for the Lakers.
If Los Angeles beats the Mavericks who are also in search of a center in signing McGee, it will be huge since he will be adding depth to the position while providing efficient minutes protecting the paint to give Hibbert some rest.
