The Denver Nuggets signed the freakishly athletic and often misguided JaVale McGee to a long-term deal Wednesday night.
In the 24 hours preceding JaVale’s new contract, the Nuggets team had been hard at work finalizing a 15-player roster. Reportedly, Denver’s front office, headed by General Manager Masai Ujiri, waffled back-and-forth on deciding if they should use their amnesty provision on Chris “Birdman” Andersen – which they eventually did — and signed Anthony Randolph following that move.
Nuggets fans have been waiting to hear the news that spunky center McGee had been re-signed and once it occurred, the news spread like wild fire, and many were enthralled. His new contract is slated at four-years $44 million dollars which equates to $11 million a season.
In a season where many ‘bigs’ have been offered max deals such as the matched offer by the Indiana Pacers for Roy Hibbert, this is a ball park figure for a 7-footer.
In 20 games last season, after coming to Denver in the Nene trade, he averaged 10.3 points and 5.8 points per game. He also finished the season ranking second in the league with 2.16 blocked shots. It was during the Denver-L.A. series that critics and fans alike took note of McGee who averaged 8.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.14 blocks in seven games.
JaVale McGee will be paired with Kenneth Faried — Denver’s resident dunker — in their front court. Faried, ranked 11th in total dunks last season — has dunking competition with JaVale who ranked second in total dunks with 150, but either way these two athletic, young players will titillate Denver fans for the coming years.
