Denver Nuggets finalizing trade for center JaVale McGee
Mar 25, 2021, 8:25 AM | Updated: 8:52 am
The Denver Nuggets are finalizing a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers to acquire JaVale McGee, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Denver is acquiring center Cleveland center JaVale McGee for Isaiah Hartenstein and two future protected second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2021
According to reports the deal is expected to send Nuggets center Isaiah Hartenstein back to Cleveland along with a 2027 unprotected second-round pick and 2023 protected second-round pick through No. 46.
McGee will be returning to the Mile High City after playing for the Nuggets from 2012 to 2015. He originally came to Denver in a multi-team deal that included sending Nene to Washington. After an impressive showing in the first round of the playoffs against the Lakers, the Nuggets re-signed McGee to a four-year deal worth $44 million.
During his 121 games played in Denver, McGee displayed highlight blocks and dunks, but was unable to consistently crack the starting lineup despite his lofty contract. His best season came during the 2012-2013 season when he was a core member of the Nuggets team that won an NBA-franchise record 57 games.
In 2015 at the NBA trade deadline, McGee was sent to Philadelphia along with a first round pick in what was essentially a salary dump. He’d go on to be part of three NBA Championship teams — 2017 and 2018 with the Warriors and 2020 with the Lakers.
Through 33 games this season in Cleveland, he’s averaging eight points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 15.2 minutes on the floor. According to NBA.com, he’s also holding opponents to 45.5 percent shooting inside six feet and 46.2 percent inside 10 feet.
