Report: Nets in ‘active discussions’ with Cavs for JaVale McGee, also interested in Kevin Love
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The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly in active trade discussions with the Cleveland Cavaliers for center JaVale McGee.
Beyond that, the star-studded Nets are reportedly also interested in former All-Star Kevin Love.
SOURCE: The Brooklyn Nets are in active discussions with the Cleveland Cavaliers to acquire JaVale McGee. Also have interest in Kevin Love — Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) January 25, 2021
McGee, 33, is one of the Cavs’ most valuable trade chips.
While the Cavs don’t see McGee as a long-term piece, they can flex his valuable size, experience and cheap contract to contenders.
McGee is putting up 8.2 points and 6.2 boards per game this season.
In addition, it appears the Nets are interested in Cavs star Kevin Love. The former All-Star has been in trade rumors for much of his tenure in Cleveland.
However, Love’s gargantuan contract has proven difficult for the Cavs to move. He is still in the middle of the four-year, $120 million contract he signed a few years ago.
The Cavs take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.
Cavaliers Notes: Sexton, Garland, Thompson, Porter
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The controversial Kyrie Irving trade in 2017 gave the Cavaliers a path toward rebuilding quickly after LeBron James left, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. The centerpiece of that deal was an unprotected first-round pick from Brooklyn that was used to draft Collin Sexton. Now in his third season, Sexton has developed into a prolific scorer, averaging 26.8 points per game and shooting 46.8% from 3-point range.
“He comes in every night with the mindset that you can’t stop him,” said backcourt partner Darius Garland. “And that’s what he shows the league, that’s what he shows the world and everybody that’s watching this basketball game. He’s getting wherever he wants. Getting teammates involved. I mean, a lot of people don’t do that.”
Cleveland used the other assets it acquired from the Celtics in that deal to gain valuable pieces, Fedor notes. Isaiah Thomas was sent to the Lakers in a deal for Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson. The Cavs flipped Jae Crowder in a trade for George Hill and Rodney Hood, and Hill was sent to the Bucks in a deal that brought back John Henson and a future first-rounder. Henson was used to acquire Andre Drummond from the Pistons, while the pick was part of the price for Jarrett Allen.
There’s more from Cleveland:
Nets hoping for Cavs’ Andre Drummond to get bought out
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The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly interested in conducting a trade for JaVale McGee, but it appears they are holding out hope that the Cleveland Cavaliers move on from another center of theirs. According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, the Nets are waiting to see the Cavaliers buy out Andre Drummond.
.@KevinOConnorNBA talking with @AndrewYang “People around the league say the Nets are hoping that Andre Drummond, the Cavs center, gets bought out. That’s what people say they’re hoping for but that’s unlikely because Cleveland is still in (playoff hunt)” https://t.co/hQWtZw6Sli — NetsDaily (@NetsDaily) January 25, 2021
After conducting the massive trade for James Harden, the Nets thinned out their frontcourt, which included Jarrett Allen. The loss of Allen has been felt by Brooklyn as teams have dominated them inside the paint, and in the rebounding department.
In light of that, after being rewarded a $5.7 million trade exception for Spencer Dinwiddie’s season-ending injury, the Nets have been rumored to be interested in McGee. Ever since Cleveland landed Allen from Brooklyn, McGee has seen a severe dropoff in minutes for the Cavaliers.
While McGee is the most realistic option, the Nets are hoping that Drummond is bought out in the near future. Seeing that Drummond re-upped with Cleveland this past offseason, there’s no reason for him to move on before he hits free agency next offseason.
Also, if Drummond was bought out by the Cavaliers, he would lose his bird rights, which would severely limit what teams he could sign with in free agency.
It would also lose bird rights for Drummond and severely limit the teams that could pay him this summer https://t.co/prOd9Hh3kc — SportsNom (@SportsNom) January 25, 2021
Even though Drummond isn’t the modern-day center that most teams want, which are ones that can stretch the floor, he can still be valuable for a team like the Nets. In his first 15 games with the Cavaliers this season, Drummond is averaging a career-best 18.3 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game.
Despite it being a long shot, the Nets are crossing their fingers that Drummond will become available sometime this season. Though, as long as the Cavaliers are in the playoff hunt, a move involving Drummond is highly unlikely.