Reason to trade: He wants out
I’d also care to mention that the fact McGee hasn’t been a nuisance off the court really testifies to just how great of a teammate he truly is. According to The Athletic, McGee has understandably been upset with his place in the rotation, as he knows he deserves to be on the floor.
An excerpt from The Athletic:
"McGee hasn’t been happy with his minutes. This is on top of not being happy the Warriors only offered him a minimum contract back in the offseason and told him the starting role wasn’t on the table. McGee isn’t causing problems at all, but it only makes sense to consider moving him if another team is interested."
His skillset of being an athletic big man capable of running the floor and catching lobs is highly coveted, and it’s not like you can teach height. He may not have the reputation of being a reliable rim protector, but he’s capable.
Yet a few questions remain: which teams are able and willing to take McGee off Golden State’s hands and give him the role he wants? Barring a major resurgence, I doubt any team would re-sign McGee for more than a year were he traded to them, so what kind of opportunities are really out there?
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In all likelihood, McGee would probably end up in the same exact role that he currently has in Golden State. Nevertheless, I can’t blame him for wanting to take that chance; in terms of playing time, there’s no where to go but up!
Whatever happens, the fan in me hopes McGee finds his footing with another squad.