The Brooklyn Nets traded James Harden before, which became the focus of the NBA. As a big deal for the four teams, Brooklyn introduced the former league MVP.
However, in order to complete this transaction, the Nets paid not cheap. In addition to taking out the treasure trove of future draft capital, they also lost a considerable amount of rotation depth, but the first to bring the obvious sense of lack to the team was Jarrett Allen.
The 22-year-old Allen was once Brooklyn’s star of hope in the interior, acting as their main defensive force in the low post. As part of the Harden deal, they reluctantly sent him to the Cleveland Cavaliers. There is no doubt that Allen’s performance on the defensive end is very nostalgic.
The Brooklyn Nets should look for a veteran backup center in the market, and JaVale McGee may become their top trade target.
Before the acquisition of Jarrett Allen, Cleveland’s inside line was already occupied by Andre Drummond and JaVale McGee. As the team tends to be a younger Allen in the future, they may seek to move to Drummond or McGee, and for the Nets, the latter is a more suitable goal for them this season.
In fact, according to a recent report by FortyEightMinutes’ Sam Amico, if McGee is favored by other teams, the Cavaliers might choose to trade around him. Similarly, if the Cavaliers decide to trade him, Brooklyn is likely to be the most hopeful person among potential suitors to strengthen the team.
In addition to providing the Nets with another viable option at the center position, there are many reasons why they should be interested in this big man and veteran. Here we list three reasons why the Brooklyn Nets should target JaVale McGee before the NBA trade deadline.
Reason 1: The Nets have received a DPE (special case for injured players).
After the Nets played three games in the new season, their main guard Spencer Dinwiddie was injured, which undoubtedly caused the team to suffer a major loss. Dinwiddie recently underwent surgery to repair a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, and the Brooklyn Nets received a special case of injured players worth $5.7 million as compensation.
This means that they can pursue trading goals of equal or less salary in the final year of the contract, which makes JaVale McGee an ideal candidate. McDonald’s book salary for the season is $4.2 million, which makes the deal more feasible. In addition, there is a vacancy, they can use this DPE to easily absorb McGee and his cheap salary.
Reason 2: McGee has extensive veteran experience.
Why can the Brooklyn Nets be regarded by many as the favorites to win this season? This is undoubtedly due to their star lineup.
But there is an unavoidable problem surrounding the team at present, and that is the depth of their rotation. The Nets changed a large part of their rotation players in the Harden trade. As mentioned earlier, the loopholes are particularly reflected in the position of the center.
Brooklyn did use one of the vacancies recently to sign free agent Noville Pellet, and the 27-year-old big man will undoubtedly provide them with more or less energy. However, he has only played 25 NBA games in total, and his level of experience is minimal for a team that is wholeheartedly pursuing a championship this season.
If they are looking for a shrewd veteran in this position, JaVale McGee meets the requirements. As a 12-year veteran, McGee has also made a lot of contributions to three of the past four NBA championships. Don’t forget, the 33-year-old McGee, as a member of the Golden State Warriors, played alongside the two-time championship MVP Kevin Durant (Kevin Durant), the current Nets core, and won three championships Two sessions.
Perhaps this old relationship between Durant and McGee is very tempting for the Nets, and considering that they need an experienced big man, this goes one step further. This makes us even more looking forward to the Brooklyn Nets seeking to introduce JaVale McGee, and introduce an experienced veteran for their way to the championship.
Reason 3: The Nets urgently need to improve their defense.
The Brooklyn Nets’ defense has been problematic from the beginning of the season, and you have to admit that the James Harden trade made this problem worse.
Brooklyn’s current defensive efficiency is 111.8, ranking 25th in the league. If the defense continues to show a downward trend, it may become their defeat later this season.
Looking back at Jarrett Allen, the team missed his defensive performance in the backcourt very much. Currently, they have lost 51.1 points in the paint per game, ranking third in the league. Starting center DeAndre Jordan (DeAndre Jordan) Has tried his best, but he is no longer the defensive champion he once was. The lack of depth in the bench will only make the problem worse.
It is undoubtedly useful if a player like McGee can stand out from the bench. McGee has been a reliable frame protector throughout his career. In his 12 years in the NBA, he averaged 1.5 blocks per game. He will provide the Brooklyn Nets with a tall 7-foot presence to protect the paint area and alleviate some of their defensive problems, which is very obvious.
However, we must always understand that if JaVale McGee can join the Nets, it will help the team, but it will never be a reinforcement that will change the Nets season.
McGee won three championship rings during the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. He is in a very strange season. Although he averaged 8.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, as an insider, his shooting percentage was only 44%, which is very strange considering his shooting percentage in the past four seasons combined was 63%.
McGee is a reliable player. He can make shots in the paint. Considering his long arms, he can cover one or two shots in every game.
Overall, the Brooklyn Nets’ potential interest in JaVale McGee is meaningful for many reasons. Whether it is experience, their use of DPE, or most importantly his defensive ability, this means that the Nets should try their best to pursue McGee.
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