There have been plenty of rumors involving Cleveland Cavaliers players potentially being traded, and although we’ll see if Andre Drummond is, a few names that have been mentioned in rumors have been Cedi Osman, JaVale McGee and Taurean Prince.
Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. have been mentioned, albeit Love being dealt by Thursday’s 3 PM deadline still seems very unlikely, and Nance, with what he means for Cleveland on and off the floor, wouldn’t seemingly be dealt. That’s been reportedly unlikely, too.
In any case, it appeared that Osman, factoring in recent rumors/reports as of Wednesday, and McGee could very well end up being dealt, and that’s played out with the latter at least for now.
According to a report on Thursday morning from Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, McGee was traded to the Denver Nuggets.
And per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, that was reportedly in exchange for Isaiah Hartenstein and two future second-round picks. Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor shortly thereafter reported how the two picks are a 2023 one that’s top-46 protected, and that the second is a 2027 one that’s unprotected.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are finalizing a deal to send JaVale McGee to the Denver Nuggets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 25, 2021
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
Sources tell @clevelanddotcom the two second-round picks #Cavs are getting from the Denver Nuggets for JaVale McGee are an unprotected 2027 second rounder and a 2023 second rounder protected to 46.
— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) March 25, 2021
So what jumps out from this Cavs trade, then?
Two things do from the Wine and Gold’s perspective, realistically, and we’ll begin with the first of those/the future pick/asset element.
The first has to do with Cleveland wanting to get something in exchange for McGee, who has played well for the Cavs after being acquired via trade from the Los Angeles Lakers before the season, to go with a 2026 second-round pick.