Former Cavs big JaVale McGee on Team USA? Okay then

It was unfortunate news to see on Friday that Cleveland Cavaliers big Kevin Love withdrew from Team USA ahead of their upcoming Summer Olympics run in Tokyo, as KJG’s Justin Brownlow hit on. Love reportedly is still working his way back and as Brownlow noted, is still not 100 percent in relation to a right calf injury that mostly limited him last season, in which he played in only 25 games.

To go with Love’s absence from the Olympics, which could’ve, at least in theory, rebuilt some potential trade value, Bradley Beal was reportedly ruled out from playing with Team USA in Tokyo. Beal was placed in COVID-19 health and safety protocols on Wednesday night, and after playing with the US in a few exhibitions, he’s no longer a member of the team/going to be playing.

Jerami Grant has not been ruled out just yet, but is in health and safety protocols currently as well; we’ll keep up with updates involving his status.

On the plus side, it did seem as if Cavs lead guard Darius Garland, who was a USA Select Team standout, could potentially get a nod on the USA squad for Olympic play. He has appeared briefly in-game in an exhibition versus Australia, and got 10 minutes of action versus Argentina in the US’ last exhibition.

But that won’t be the case, as Keldon Johnson ended up getting a spot on Team USA, for one, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Regardless though, this report from Friday afternoon was well…..something. Former Cavs big JaVale McGee, who was with them for half of a season this past season was added to the Team USA roster for Tokyo per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

I liked what McGee did for the Cavs, but him on Team USA? Okay then.

McGee, who was initially acquired via trade by Cleveland from the Los Angeles Lakers, to then go with two future second-round picks before last season, did do a nice job I thought as a backup 5 when he was given opportunities.

Now, the veteran did have more of a role, when he was a regular in the rotation, than one would’ve probably hoped for with them then 32/now 33, but I do give him his credit. In his half-season with the Cavs, the veteran did have 8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 15.2 minutes per game for Cleveland, in what was 33 appearances.

There were some, I’ll say, curious decisions from McGee at times with the Cavaliers in his short stint. That said, he was a legitimate rim protector in his bench minutes, and he provide energy in his minutes on the floor often for Cleveland, and he was seemingly a very meaningful leadership presence that was fully-bought-in with the Cavs.

I applaud him for that, as McGee was fresh off winning a title with the Los Angeles Lakers, for one. He had recently won two chips with the Golden State Warriors, too.

From there, McGee was eventually traded by the Cavs to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Isaiah Hartenstein and two future second-round picks, and Hartenstein was a pleasant surprise and I’d think could be re-signed. That’s assuming he foregos his $1.8 million player option for next season, which is reportedly likely.

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In any case, circling back to McGee, while he is a capable bench 5, and did fill in some for Denver superstar Nikola Jokic last season in spurts, even with Team USA thin on bigs, especially following Love’s withdrawal, McGee on Team USA is not exactly a great call.

I get that McGee is a team-first guy, and can provide a 7-footer that can block/alter shots for some stretches for you. But McGee, who is pretty limited offensively in this sort of setting, particularly in international play without defensive 3 seconds, is just an odd move.

I get that there’s the COVID-19 element to things, and it doesn’t seem simple to get another star player, from an injury potential perspective, to play.

McGee, though? It’s difficult to foresee lineups with McGee and Draymond Green playing together, and to an extent, him and Bam Adebayo might be a bit clunky. I don’t know this just seems odd.

Even a vet such as perhaps Dewayne Dedmon or maybe Brook Lopez following the NBA Finals could be an add? Or heck, even Robin Lopez I could foresee being more viable.

This is just an odd and head-scratching decision by Team USA to me. I do still think they will figure things out after losing two exhibitions to Nigeria and Australia (they did beat Argentina), provided they do end up still making the trip to the Tokyo Olympics, which I’d imagine they still will.

But again, McGee is a player for Team USA in this setting?

That threw me for a loop, and I’m sure Cavs and NBA fans in general. We’ll have to see if it works/he can contribute. Maybe he will be a meaningful piece.