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ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that the Los Angeles Lakers have completed a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers that will send center veteran center JaVale McGee to Cleveland in exchange for Jordan Bell and Alfonzo McKinnie.
Lakers are sending McGee and a future-second round pick to Cavaliers, source tells ESPN. https://t.co/oVWXtMphII
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 23, 2020
For acting in what is, essentially a salary dump, the Cavs will also receive a future second-round pick.
With the added space, the Lakers are expected to sign former Raptors center Marc Gasol, per Wojnarowski.
JaVale trade clears the way for the Lakers to have the available money to sign Marc Gasol, sources tell ESPN. Deal is still being worked out.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 23, 2020
The trade and subsequent signing of Gasol by the Lakers, is the culmination of a slew of reporting all weekend, in which the All-Star center was reported to have narrowed his choices down to Los Angeles and Toronto. In choosing LA, Gasol will likely slide into the starting lineup adjacent Anthony Davis—who, despite not having re-signed with the Lakers, is still expected to. Replacing the since departed Dwight Howard, and aforementioned McGee, Gasol will seek to replicate the interior defense the two provided during this last season, while featuring an offensive game, capable of stretching the floor.
As for McGee, the center is currently in the last year of his contract, that he only days ago opted into. While he is currently set to hit the open market in 2021, it would not be surprising to see the big man become a buy-out candidate later in the season, should the Cavaliers be unable to trade him. With the team unlikely to contend during the upcoming campaign, the prospect of paying a 32-year-old center his full salary of $4.2 million does appear unlikely.
