The Brooklyn Nets have spoken with the Cleveland Cavaliers about a potential trade involving center JaVale McGee, according to Jason Dumas of KRON4 News. FortyEightMinutes sources confirmed the report.
FortyEightMinutes reported Friday that the Nets have an interest in McGee, who is on an expiring $4.2 million contract.
Nets and Cavs meeting for second time tonight, and sources tell @FortyEightMins to expect Nets to make a run at acquiring Cavs backup center JaVale McGee soon. Brooklyn has 2 available roster spots and looking for another veteran presence in the middle.
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) January 23, 2021
The Nets have two available roster spots after acquiring star guard James Harden from the Houston Rockets earlier this month. Part of that deal sent center Jarrett Allen to the Cavs, leaving the Nets with a hole at backup center.
Dumas added the Nets also have an interest in power forward Kevin Love, as relayed by Brian Lewis of the New York Post.
The Cavaliers will look to flip a number of their bigs for draft capital. Andre Drummond & Kevin Love could both be moved, per source. I'm told Jarrett Allen is off the table.
— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) January 25, 2021
“But the league personnel whom The Post spoke with found that a much less likely move, considering (Love is) mediocre defensively and making $91.5 million combined over this season and the next two,” Lewis reported. “McGee, on the other hand, is more of a fit.”
McGee, 33, is averaging 8.2 points and 6.2 rebounds in 14 appearances. He did not get off the bench for two straight games following the trade with the Nets — and now appears to be third in the Cavs’ center rotation, behind starter Andre Drummond and Allen.
As Lewis wrote, McGee’s salary could easily be absorbed into the Nets’ disabled-player exception (via injured guard Spencer Dinwiddie) of $5.7 million.
The Cavs are also kicking around the idea of trading Drummond, multiple sources have told FortyEightMinutes. Drummond is on an expiring $28.7 million contract.
