The Denver Nuggets are working hard to lock up 24-year-old restricted free agent center JaVale McGee to a long-term deal, and on Thursday the team offered McGee a five-year, $50 million contract. According to Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post, the Nuggets extended the lucrative five-year deal to McGee and are now awaiting a response from his representatives. As a restricted free agent, McGee can only receive offers up to four-years in length from other teams, so the Nuggets have optimized their offer in the sense that they are the only NBA team that can offer a fifth year. With a highly-competitive market developing for young big men, it will be interesting to see how McGee's camp responds to Denver's offer.
McGee played his first three seasons with the Washington Wizards before being traded in exchange for Nene midway through his fourth season. In 20 regular season games with Denver last season, he averaged 10.3 points and 5.8 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game.
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