The Philadelphia 76ers and center JaVale McGee reportedly are discussing a buyout agreement. The deal could be completed before midnight Monday morning in order for McGee to be eligible to play in the postseason for another team.
Philadelphia and McGee are in last-minute talks to complete a buyout before the clock strikes midnight on Sunday, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.
"The Philadelphia 76ers are engaged in active buyout talks with newly-acquired center JaVale McGee in advance of Sunday night's playoff-eligibility deadline, according to league sources," Stein wrote Sunday. "Sources told ESPN.com that McGee, after initially saying upon being dealt to the Sixers that he did not want a buyout, has his representatives on the hunt for a team interested in signing the 7-footer once he clears waivers before signing off on a buyout.
"McGee would have to be waived by Philadelphia by midnight Sunday to be eligible to play in the 2015 playoffs with another team."
The Denver Nuggets traded McGee, along with a top-18 protected first-round pick, on Feb. 19 to Philadelphia. Although many thought McGee would seek a buyout, he told reporters last week he didn't want to take one because he'd lose money.
"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."
Whether McGee, who's owed the remainder of his $11.25 million salary for this season and $12 million the next, accepts a deal before midnight Monday morning could depend on what the prospects of him signing with another team look like.
"(McGee's) willingness to surrender salary ... will almost certainly depend on what sort of deal can be had with a new team once the 27-year-old becomes a free agent," Stein wrote. "If no offers materialize before midnight Sunday, McGee could be forced to finish out the season with the Sixers, who would then be expected to try to trade him as he moves into the final year of his contract."
UPDATE (March 2): Philadelphia released McGee.
