Warriors center JaVale McGee is well-schooled on the business side of the NBA. During his 10 years in the league, he has been waived and traded twice, at one point accepting a nonguaranteed training-camp invite to keep his career alive.
Over the past eight weeks, as his name was mentioned in a steady drumbeat of trade rumblings, McGee focused on what he could control. Instead of dwelling on his infrequent playing time, he stayed late after practice for games of 3-on-3, worked on defending guards and forwards, and trusted that his professionalism would be rewarded with more minutes.