JaVale McGee reveals that he was taken off guard by the trade news – NBA Update
In the dying hours of the mid season trade window, Washington Wizards made a pretty neat three team deal that sent their big man JaVale McGee and centre Ronny Turiaf to Denver Nuggets, and guard Nick Young to the Los Angeles Clippers.
In return, they got the veteran Nene from Denver and forward Brian Cook along with a 2nd round pick from Clippers.
Nealry a month had passed and JaVale, who was once considered to be one of the building block in Washington, did not speak on the issue. But, recently he decided to break his silence. The third year seven footer has revealed was
taken off guard by the trade news, especially when he was the last person to learn about it.
“I was sleeping, taking my pregame nap,” McGee told HOOPSWORLD. “When I woke up, I found out that I had been traded. I had a bunch of text messages from different people and I talked to the team. I was shocked. I just asked, ‘When
do I leave?’”
McGee was on route to become a free agent this off season and had been on Wizards roster for a long time, since 2008 when he was selected as 18th overall pick in 2008 NBA draft. He was hoping to garner a huge salary
in the open market after becoming a free agent, or at least match a hefty offer sheet after becoming a restricted free agent.
Even though he was amongst the few players in NBA to average a minimum of 11.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game but the Wizards administration had raised serious question about his professional conduct. He and Young were often
branded as being selfish on the offense, especially this season.
Wizards thus traded him out, making the transition quiet astutely. In return for McGee they got a more experienced and established player in the form of Nene. The Brazilian is averaging 13.4 points and 7.4 rebounds in this season
and can play a huge role in providing guidance to the youngsters at the club.
McGee on the other hand has kept his cool and has started to adapt to the ways of his new team, the Denver Nuggets.
“This is a great organization,’ McGee said. ‘There are a lot of hard working people here and this organization gives their players everything they need.”
He has so far performed solidly, averaging 9.8 points and 6.6 assists in a total of 8 games played for Nuggets. The only thing that troubles him is altitude, as he has exercise-induced asthma.
“That’s the only thing and it wasn’t really that tough to get used to. It was hard during my first game, but after that I was good”.
To play in a new team under a new coach with an entire different system and all of that with minimal practice time is a challenge, but McGee is confident he will get the hang of things soon.
Nuggets are hoping he will bring the desired boost to the team that is struggling to cement its place in the last 8 of the Western Conference as the regular season draws to an end.
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