JaVale McGee waived by 76ers, can sign with playoff team

Sam Amick | USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to waive center JaVale McGee in time for him to sign with a playoff team, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because the decision had not been announced.

Players waived by March 1 can still sign with teams that compete in the postseason, meaning the 27-year-old McGee will likely have a fruitful market when he clears waivers. Whether it's a new job with one of the Texas teams (San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets), the Miami Heat or another contender, McGee has every reason to be enthused about what lies ahead — especially considering he didn't give any money back.

Despite having buyout talks with the team in recent days, McGee didn't wind up giving back any of his salary owed ($11.2 million for this season, $12 million for next season).

For the Sixers, the merit of the McGee move that brought him from the Denver Nuggets at the Feb. 21 trade deadline had everything to do with the first round pick they acquired. The 2015 first-rounder from Oklahoma City, by way of Denver, is protected for selections one through 18 in 2015, 1-15 in 2016 and 1-15 in 2017. If the Sixers don't receive it by then, they'll receive two second-round draft picks.

McGee, who was taken 18th overall by the Washington Wizards out of Nevada, has averaged 8.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in seven seasons. He played in six games for the 76ers, averaging 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in 10.2 minutes.

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