Golden State Warriors bring back JaVale McGee on one-year deal

Golden State Warriors, the reigning NBA champions, have re-signed Javale McGee to a one-year veteran minimum contract, according to reports. The athletic centre played key minutes off the bench during the 2017 NBA Playoffs when the Warriors went on a record 16-1 postseason run.

McGee will once again be the first centre off the bench for the Warriors, behind veteran Zaza Pachulia, who recently signed a one-year, US$3.5 million (AU$43.8 million) contract to stay in Oakland. Besides McGee and Pachulia, Warriors coach Steve Kerr often plays David West at the 5 spot, besides closing games with Draymond Green in his "death lineup." West will retire at the end of the 2017-18 season.

McGee, a nine-year veteran, was bounced around the league before finding the ideal platform to make an instant impact in limited minutes off the bench. “This has been somewhat of a redemption season. This has been a great opportunity and platform to show what I have and to help this team," the 7-footer told The Undefeated a month before winning a ring with the Warriors.

Javale McGee re-joins Warriors frontcourt rotation

The Warriors are expected to give playing time to highly-touted rookie Jordan Bell and second-year big man Damian Jones during the forthcoming season. With McGee, Pachulia, West, Green and Kevin Durant forming Golden State's frontcourt rotation, Bell and Jones would have to earn their minutes.

Last year, McGee attended Golden State's pre-season training camp before making the 15-man roster as the solitary rim protector off the bench. The McGee signing puts Golden State's roster at 15 guaranteed contracts. They can sign two more players on two-way contracts that allow talent to go back-and-forth between the NBA and the G League (Developmental League).

Javale McGee averaged 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks from less than 10 minutes per game during his first season with the Warriors.