NBA Rumors: Denver Nuggets Would Be Wise to Retain JaVale McGee This Summer

Yes, JaVale McGee has made more noise from his bone-headed moments this year than his actual play on the court, we can all agree on that.

However, that doesn't mean that the Denver Nuggets shouldn't try to keep him around when he becomes a restricted free agent this summer.

From Alex Kennedy of HOOPSWORLD:

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Whether McGee remains with the Nuggets after this season remains to be seen. He is a restricted free agent this summer, which means Denver will have the opportunity to match any offer he receives. With Dwight Howard choosing to opt-in with the Orlando Magic, McGee will be one of the best centers available this offseason. McGee says his camp has yet to talk with the Nuggets’ brass about a new contract.

“My agent is going to handle all of that this summer,” McGee said.

"

McGee has seemed to fit in well in Denver. He gets along with teammates and plays well, albeit in limited minutes.

As Kennedy noted, the center market—really, the entirety of the free-agent market—will be pretty weak this year, which makes McGee a player that teams might potentially be willing to overpay.

If the Nuggets want to keep him around, the team's best bet is to re-sign him to an extension before other teams start sending bloated offers McGee's way. He remains a player with a ton of upside, and if he can get his act together in Denver, he could end up being the team's center for the foreseeable future.

I'm sure the Nuggets want to see as much of McGee and how he continues to play as possible. He's a risky investment, to be sure.

However, I for one think that keeping him around could end up making the deal that sent Nene away at the trade deadline a great one for the team. He's added depth to the front court in the short term, and his potential could add a whole lot more in the future.

Don't be surprised if McGee sticks around. It's the smart move, at least for my money.

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