Cavs: Predicting what happens with their four expiring contracts

Predicting what the Cavs will do with the expiring JaVale McGee

Javale McGee was traded to the Cavaliers in exchange for Alfonzo McKinnie and Jordan Bell; from there shortly thereafter, Bell was waived. The Cavaliers also acquired a 2026 second-round pick in this deal. The Lakers made this trade to clear cap space and used said cap space to sign Marc Gasol.

Looking at McGee for Cleveland, he fills a spot that was lost with Tristan Thompson signing with the Boston Celtics. McGee also gives the Cavaliers a solid rim protector and lob threat.

The biggest question surrounding McGee is whether or not he wants to be here. McGee is a three-time champion and at this stage of his career, it is almost certain that he would rather be on a playoff team than a team whose focus is towards the young players like the Cavaliers are.

McGee is seemingly a great teammate, but one couldn’t blame him if he’d rather be on a postseason squad/realistic contender.

Plus, McGee’s $4.2 million dollar contract makes him seemingly expendable and it shouldn’t take a lot for a playoff team to trade for him. A McGee trade could net the Cavaliers more second-round draft capital that could then be packaged together over time and used to acquire a late first-round pick, similar to the trade the Cavaliers made to acquire the draft rights to Kevin Porter Jr.

Prediction: McGee is moved at the 2021 trade deadline

We’ll ultimately see what happens in regards to these four expiring Cavs players, anyhow.