Cavs: It’s a plus that a JaVale McGee buyout seemingly isn’t likely

The Cleveland Cavaliers have gotten, for the most part, good play from JaVale McGee in a backup 5 role. To this point, McGee’s had 8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 15.2 minutes per contest, and has typically given the Cavs energy in his minutes-share.

There’s been sequences when the veteran big has done too much, frankly, but with what he’s provided in other ways, and with the effort he’s consistently shown on defense, Cleveland’s been able to live with it.

McGee’s had essentially the highest per-36 minute turnover clip of his career with the Cavaliers this season at 3.2, which hasn’t been ideal, but he’s had more freedom, for better or worse. And all things considered, in backup burn, it’s not been a huge deal, I don’t think, and he’s still been an active roller/lob threat, and interior presence defensively.

Nonetheless, with McGee, he’s been a player that’s on a team-friendly $4.2 million expiring contract, and with what’s he shown and him having his share of postseason experience/being a three-time NBA champ in his career, he’s been a subject of trade rumors.

Clubs that have been linked to McGee have been the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets, who reportedly previously had trade discussions with the Cavs centered on McGee before. Yahoo! Sports’ Vincent Goodwill reported how McGee has started to “garner interest” from the Portland Trail Blazers, too.

Goodwill, as a side note, did also report how if the Cavs were to move on from general manager Koby Altman this upcoming offseason, that current New York Knicks vice president of strategy Brock Aller could be at the forefront as a potential replacment.

That’s given his longstanding ties to Cavs owner Dan Gilbert/the Cavs from before; albeit that’s not where we’re focused on here at the moment, and Altman has done a very nice job of asset accumulation.

Moving along regarding the McGee front, in addition, per a report from Evan Dammarell of Forbes and Fear The Sword, who believes McGee is the “most likely” Cav to be dealt (subscription required after free trial), he foresees McGee potentially being dealt to the Golden State Warriors, of whom he won two titles with before.

It appears that McGee could very well be moved by Thursday’s 3 PM trade deadline, clearly.

I’d get Cleveland’s reasoning for doing so, as McGee, one would imagine, could warrant Cleveland getting back a second-round pick for him, with how he’s played this season, and with him being a viable postseason reserve contributor. His team-friendly, expiring contract would play into that, too.

Perhaps Cleveland could end up keeping McGee around through the rest of the season, though, and more so if they were to end up buying out Andre Drummond, and not finding a suitable trade for him. For more on Drummond/other rumored trade candidates, such as Cedi Osman, for instance, you can view those here, anyway.

In any case, it seems likely that McGee won’t end up just being bought out by the Cavs, and could again, maybe end up sticking around. This is in relation to a report from early Tuesday AM from Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor. And for context, we’ll have to see if a backup 5 were to be acquired for potentially him, or perhaps a different trade.

"“Anything can happen. Deadlines have a way of sparking meaningful conversations. Things can change in an instant. But more than 48 hours before the trade buzzer, it wouldn’t be a suprise to see McGee remain with the team. Multiple sources tell cleveland.com that the Cavs wouldn’t be interested in a buyout. Their current plan: Trade or keep him.Even though McGee has an easily moveable $4.2 million expiring contract, he’s also Cleveland’s lone backup center with Andre Drummond on the outs. Getting an asset in return (if possible) is one thing — a justifiable decision for a team with 16 wins. But getting rid of him for nothing? Just so a title team gets an interior boost and the organization saves a few bucks? That doesn’t make much sense — unless the Cavs add another center elsewhere.”"

Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer also reported recently how McGee and Cedi Osman have “received interest” around the NBA. He reported how the Warriors “inquired” about Osman, but then added “talks stalled.”

That sort of thing reiterated how McGee seemingly could be dealt, though.

Granted, Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes did state this in a recent report from Monday, and as an aside, you can view more from Haynes’ report regarding Jarrett Allen/this upcoming offseason at this link. Here was what I was referring to from Haynes on McGee, anyhow.

"“It is becoming more likely that a new destination for the Cleveland Cavaliers backup center would occur not by trade, but rather a buyout, league sources told Yahoo Sports.”"

Factoring in rumors for a good while, though, and O’Connor’s, Fedor’s and Dammarell’s reports/comments, it still appears that McGee could be moved via trade. Or again, perhaps he’ll stick around.

It’s a plus that McGee will seemingly not be simply bought out, however.

Given what McGee’s provided for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season after being acquired via trade from the Los Angeles Lakers before the season, along with a 2026 second-round pick, it’s tough to foresee him just being bought out.

If a backup 5 were to be acquired via trade, feasibly with a future second-round pick I’d think, if that’d be understandable for Cleveland to move McGee.

Of course, perhaps a buyout for McGee would play out if a backup big were to be acquired in a potential Drummond trade, such as maybe Nerlens Noel as a part of a package from the Knicks, a rumored Drummond trade landing spot. But there is reported skepticism that a Drummond deal will come to fruition.

Either way, though, while I couldn’t blame Cleveland for trading McGee if they are able to land a backup 5 for Jarrett Allen, and maybe in exchange for McGee himself, for instance, as he’s a proven veteran, I’d be alright with McGee sticking around.

He’s reportedly been a key leadership presence, has helped Allen, and is loved by his Cavs teammates, such as Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and others.

Moreover, though I again, couldn’t blame the Cavaliers for adding another asset in exchange for McGee potentially, them simply buying him out, without adding another backup big first wouldn’t be sensible.

And while I’m not just discounting Haynes’ report here, it still wouldn’t seem as if, based on the other reports from Fedor, O’Connor and Dammarell and other rumors throughout, that that scenario would likely play out. As it shouldn’t, to be clear.

That’s if that other backup 5 weren’t to be acquired, to reiterate. But for McGee even himself, perhaps it could.