5 Moves Mavericks should make after re-signing Kyrie Irving

4. Trade JaVale McGee

The Mavs used their taxpayer mid-level exception to sign JaVale McGee last summer to a three-year deal worth $17.2 million. They planned for him to be their starting center and a key piece of their rotation. McGee lasted six games as a starter and was out of the rotation by mid-November.

Dallas is not counting on the 35-year-old next season, but he is still owed $11.7 million over the next two years, including a player option for 2024-25. The Mavericks tried to trade McGee at the deadline and this offseason, but they have been unable to find a deal.

They are still working the phones and trying to find trades. Dallas would like to deal away Tim Hardaway Jr. and McGee, but finding something workable is difficult. The Mavericks got close on a Deandre Ayton trade (subscription required), but things fell through based on the inclusion of McGee, per Marc Stein.

The Mavs cannot enter the season with five centers on their roster. They drafted Dereck Lively II and traded for Richaun Holmes already. The franchise would like to bring Dwight Powell back, but he is an unrestricted free agent. None of those players solves their biggest issue, so JaVale McGee must go to balance out the roster.