Report: Celtics close to signing JaVale McGee
When the Philadelphia 76ers bought out center JaVale McGee ahead of the playoff eligibility waiver deadline early this week, they sold it as an act of goodwill, a chance for McGee to join up with a contender and maybe even play some meaningful postseason minutes.
A few such contenders emerged as interested parties, but it doesn't look like any of them will be getting their man. Instead, the overachieving Boston Celtics, who sit two games out of eighth place in the Eastern Conference, appear ready to nab the confounding big man as they make a late-season playoff push.
The Celtics and McGee are close to a deal that would run the remainder of this season and extend through 2015-16, according to ESPN's Jeff Goodman.
The Celtics are a little short on frontcourt depth, with power forward Jared Sullinger having been ruled out for the remainder of the season. McGee, a springy, 7-foot, shot-blocking menace with a tenuous grasp of basketball fundamentals, would provide head coach Brad Stevens with some pretty interesting clay to try and mold.
"JaVale is a long, athletic guy and we don't have (that) type of player, an above-the-rim offensive and defensive player," Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said Thursday.
McGee, whose raw potential has typically outweighed his real value, has also played just 28 games over the past two years thanks to a series of injuries that included a fractured tibia.
"He's been paid a lot of money in our league, had some injuries, hasn't lived up to his potential yet and we're hoping that he can under Brad's tutelage," Ainge continued. "I think he's in a good place, emotionally and mentally, and he really wants to get his career on the right path."
In 23 games between the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers this season, he's averaged 4.6 points and 2.7 rebounds in 11.1 minutes.