Rumors: Dallas Mavericks likely to trade 3-time NBA Champion center

Trade rumors have been flying around the Dallas Mavericks organization over the last few weeks.

The Mavericks made two draft night trades as they traded back two spots and dumped Davis Bertans’ salary to select Dereck Lively II with the No. 12 pick and receive a traded player exception. Dallas then used the traded player exception to trade back into the first round to select Olivier-Maxence Prosper with the No. 24 pick and take on Richaun Holmes.

The Mavs have also been involved in some bigger trade rumors.

They’ve been linked to Deandre Ayton, Pascal Siakam, and Clint Capela. But now the trade rumors are shifting to Dallas dealing a player rather than receiving one.

According to Marc Stein, the Mavericks are expected to trade or release JaVale McGee (subscription required). The Mavs have been shopping McGee for a few weeks now, as he was included in Dallas’ draft night trade talks with the Phoenix Suns, and now it is being reported that it is an “expected move” that McGee will not be a Maverick next season.

The writing has been on the wall all summer that the Mavs wanted McGee gone, and it seems that they are willing to go to the extent of releasing him to get his contract off their books.

McGee’s time in Dallas was a disaster. He averaged 4.4 points per game and lost his promised starting job quickly. Dallas signed him to a three-year, $17 million contract last summer and already wants to release him after one season. He didn’t live up to his expectations and is likely worth a veteran’s minimum contract at this point.

This was McGee’s second stint in Dallas, and there is a big possibility that he never plays in a Mavericks jersey again. Dallas has to find a better option at center, and McGee doesn’t seem to be included in their plans moving forward.

Stay tuned to see what moves the Mavericks decide to make in free agency and if they end up trading or releasing McGee. We’ll have you covered with all the latest news and rumors, so stay tuned.