Cavaliers give JaVale McGee his props in recent tweet

He didn’t have a very long tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but JaVale McGee did make his presence felt for the Wine and Gold. This season with the Cavs in backup 5 burn for Andre Drummond earlier on, and then for Jarrett Allen, who looks to be Cleveland’s long-term starting 5, McGee helped out the Cavs.

He averaged 8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 15.2 minutes per outing, in what amounted to 33 appearances. Given him being an older veteran on a team-friendly, $4.2 million expiring contract, though, it did seem as if McGee could very well be traded by the league’s deadline.

And per rumors/reports from a few days ago/this week, McGee being dealt to a contender/postseason hopeful did appear likely, even while he did do a nice job for the Cavs.

In that realm, McGee, who was acquired via trade before the season from the Los Angeles Lakers, was recently traded to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday.

That was in exchange in for young reserve 5 Isaiah Hartenstein and two future second-round picks. One of those 2s was a top-46 protected 2023 one, and the other was an unprotected one in 2027. The Cavs also generated a $4.2 million trade exception for McGee, too.

For a team like the Cavs, also including the 2026 second-rounder from the Lakers’ deal before the season, netting three future seconds for a half season of McGee wasn’t too shabby, though.

That said, I again have to give McGee his credit for how bought-in he was with Cleveland, his presence on the interior in his burn and for him clearly having been a key leadership/locker room guy.

All things considered, he was a pro’s pro with the Cavaliers, and he brought his share of energy. This tweet from the Cavs thanking McGee for that sort of thing was great to see, too.

https://twitter.com/cavs/status/1375452730530037768?s=20

It was nice to see the Cavs give McGee his props.

As we alluded to, McGee often gave the Cavaliers energy in his rotational burn, by way of bringing down lobs from the likes of Darius Garland, at times from Damyean Dotson and/or from Cedi Osman. The same can be said for when he sent back opposing shots on the interior, or even occasionally, in a similary way to that of Jarrett Allen, some dunks, even.

All in all, McGee continued to be the consummate pro’s pro in his burn with the Cavs, even after being fresh off winning a championship with the Lakers last season. McGee had previously won two titles in recent seasons with the Golden State Warriors, too, for further context.

So to drive it home, it was nice to see the Cavaliers give the veteran big man his props for his efforts in his, well, still pretty short, but impactful, tenure with them.

Additionally, fittingly, with how bought-in he was in his time with the Cavs, McGee showed gratitude to the Wine and Gold in a quote tweet shortly thereafter on Friday as well.

https://twitter.com/JaValeMcGee/status/1375468824456138755?s=20

McGee should help the Nuggets, in what will end up being his second tenure with them in his career, by helping spell Nikola Jokic in spurts. And I wish the vet the best of luck.

Again, though, with the Cavs’ situation at the moment, essentially acquiring three future 2s for McGee all together, could, in particular, help perhaps in other trades down the road. Ultimately, trading him was an understandable decision.

And to me, while we’ll have to see what Cleveland ends up doing with their two open roster spots, now, with the Cavaliers and Andre Drummond reportedly coming to a buyout agreement on Friday, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Hartenstein can be serviceable as a backup 5. He is a viable rim protector and roller/lob threat that could very well benefit with maybe more burn with the Cavs here the rest of this season, too.

Moreover, it was nice to again see the Cavaliers give their props to McGee for the energy he provided for them this season.

It was fun, JaVale.