Philadelphia 76ers center JaVale McGee is unlikely to agree to a buyout for one reason: He wants all of his money. In addition to wanting to get paid, McGee believes he can be a mentor to centers Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel.
The Denver Nuggets were willing to give up a top-18 protected first-round draft pick to dump McGee's salary, and the 76ers - with salary cap space to spare - accepted on Thursday. Philadelphia was expected to buy out the remainder of McGee's contract, but that looks unlikely to happen now - in part because McGee seemingly won't agree to it.
"I don't want to get bought out," McGee said Monday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "That's not a positive thing. When you think about it, you don't get all of your money when you get bought out. So it doesn't make sense why someone would want to get bought out unless they are older - older and they want to go to a contender or something. I'm not that old. I just want to play basketball."
He's due $12 million next season, along with the remainder of his $11.2 million salary for this season. His meager production and history of injuries - including a fracture in his left tibia last season - make him worth less than his price tag, but the 27-year-old believes there's something else he can offer the organization.
"When I was with the Wizards, I think it was my sophomore year, we won like 19 games," he said. "So I've been in the same situation. I've just definitely got to get these young guys' heads into it where they stay positive, keep playing hard, just look for wins and [learn] how to win."
For the 76ers' part, coach Brett Brown at least seems willing to give McGee a chance.
"We are coming into this whole thing with an open mind," coach Brett Brown said Sunday. "He is around a bunch of genuine people, coaches that care. That will give him every chance to keep moving and to be as good as he can be. And if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. But it's not going to be on us."
