Small forward Alonzo Gee played for the Cavs last season but was traded to make room for LeBron James. (Mike McGinnis, Getty Images)
Veteran swingman Alonzo Gee has been traded three times and waived once, all in the span of the last three months. But , he’s caught the interest of the Nuggets.
Gee, 27, averaged four points and 2.3 rebounds in 65 games with the Cavaliers last season, but in July to make room for LeBron James. Gee was then traded to Houston as part of the , and was then as part of the Jason Terry trade. Three days ago, Gee was waived by the Kings.
The Nuggets already have 13 players on guaranteed deals, with Quincy Miller and Erick Green on partially guaranteed contracts. That means those two, along with training camp invites Marcus Williams and Joe Alexander (and possibly Gee, now) will be fighting for the final two spots. The team can carry 17 players on their roster through training camp and in the preseason, but they must whittle it down to 15 before the start of the regular season.
Any interest in Gee may seem odd on its face, given the Nuggets are already well-stocked at the wing. They re-acquired Arron Afflalo in a draft-day trade, selected Gary Harris in the draft, already have Randy Foye and Wilson Chandler, and will welcome back Danilo Gallinari from injury.
But Gee’s benefits to the Nuggets are three-fold. Gallinari hasn’t played an NBA game in a year and half after two knee surgeries, so the addition of Gee would likely be insurance for the Nuggets as they wait to see how reliable, and healthy, Gallo really is in his return.
And Wilson Chandler, the only other pure small forward on the Nuggets’ roster, is in the final fully guaranteed year of his deal (he’s guaranteed only $2 million in 2015). Bringing on Gee would allow Denver some flexibility in looking to move Chandler’s expiring deal.
And then there’s Gee’s defensive abilities. While his offensive numbers are hardly anything to boast about, Gee impressed then Cavs coach Byron Scott with his defense and ability to guard an opponent’s top player. For the Nuggets, any help on the defensive end is a gift.
