5 Dallas Mavericks who may not be back next season

3. JaVale McGee

McGee was the team’s marquee free agent signing last summer. They used the majority of their taxpayer mid-level exception and gave him a three-year contract because the Mavs envisioned him as their starting center, but things never worked out. The seven-footer quickly fell out of the rotation. He just never found his footing in their defensive scheme, and there were way too many mistakes.

McGee still has two years and $11.7 million left on his contract, but the Mavericks will do everything in their power to trade him. They need to upgrade at center. Dallas is the worst rebounding team in the league, and they struggle to protect the rim. McGee was brought in to help solve those issues, but it has not happened.

The Mavs front office will explore trading JaVale McGee, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Davis Bertans this summer. They are not going to trade a first-round pick to dump a contract, but Dallas would love to include those three players in trades to clear them off their books. McGee is the most likely to find a new home because he is set to make just $5.7 million next season.

Can the Dallas Mavericks find a JaVale McGee trade that improves their roster this summer? If they cannot, it won’t be for a lack of trying.