With free agency near, should the Charlotte Hornets take a chance at a veteran center? JaVale McGee is coming off of one of the best seasons of his career.
It’s no secret that the Charlotte Hornets need help in their frontcourt after this past season. With free agency drawing nearer, the Hornets could potentially have a chance at a cheap veteran center.
If the Hornets want to improve their frontcourt, while also securing the funds to re-sign Kemba Walker, then JaVale McGee might be their answer. McGee is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Many may know McGee for his Shaqtin’ a Fool moments, but he has actually been a decent interior defender for a majority of his career. McGee finished last season by averaging 12.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game for the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Last season had to be one of his best, as he averaged a career high in points per game while playing with Lebron James. McGee even had a monster game last season where he racked up 33 points, 20 rebounds, and 6 blocks.
This is the kind of productivity that the Hornets have lacked in their frontcourt. The Hornets finished last season ranked 23rd in the league in rebounds per game with 43.8. They also finished with a defensive rating of 111.9; this was enough to rank them as the 22nd team in the league in this category.
McGee is 31 years old, and he still has a lot left in the tank. He started in 62 games with the Lakers last season, and he managed to play for 22.3 minutes per game. His scoring production from last season proved that his age was not a problem.
While McGee only posses an inside game, it’s still interesting to note that he is coming off a season where he made his first three-pointer since the 2012-13 season with the Denver Nuggets.
Charlotte has also lacked a consistent shot blocker since the departure of Dwight Howard, and the team’s current centers are not picking up the slack. Current starter Cody Zeller only managed to average 0.8 blocks per game for Charlotte last season.
With Cody’s chronic injuries that he continues to suffer and the possible departure of Frank Kaminsky, McGee would be a nice insurance option to pick up. The Hornets could possibly even sign him for under $3 million.
Based on his consistent play with the Lakers last season, I would give him a chance at the starting job in Charlotte. Zeller needs someone to compete with for the starting center position; I think McGee could help mentor Zeller.
As for now, it’s unknown to what McGee will do this offseason, as he has not given any indication on if he will stay in LA. I would expect the Hornets to take a look at him if they do not end up picking a center in Thursday’s draft.