Tony Dejak/Associated Press

JaVale McGee Rumors: Playoff Teams Eyeing Buyout, Trade for Cavaliers Center

Jenna Ciccotelli

JaVale McGee may be headed to the postseason, just not with the Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs currently sit 12th in the Eastern Conference at 15-25, but McGee may be on his way out of the organization, with contenders reportedly reaching out to the team regarding his availability, according to ESPN's Zach Lowe

Per Lowe, some of those teams are hanging on to see if McGee is bought out of his deal before they discuss what they would give up in a trade. 

According to Chris B. Haynes of Yahoo, McGee isn't interested in being bought out, so teams that are interested—including the Brooklyn Nets, he wrote—will have to intrigue Cleveland with an offer. 

McGee is owed $4.2 million in the final year of his contract, a two-year deal he originally signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was traded to Cleveland in November in a transaction that sent Alfonzo McKinnie and Jordan Bell to L.A. 

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium wrote earlier in March that the Cavaliers were "open" to trades for McGee. 

Through 31 games, the veteran has averaged 7.8 points and 5.0 rebounds, primarily playing off of the bench behind Jarrett Allen, who joined the group in the four-team deal that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. Allen, who is in his fourth year in the league, has averaged 13.6 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks through 27 games. 

The Cavaliers also turned to Andre Drummond as a big this season, but he hasn't played since Feb. 14 as the team seeks trade partners for him. 

   

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