DENVER, Feb. 19, 2015 – The Denver Nuggets have traded center JaVale McGee, a protected 2015 first round pick (via Oklahoma City) and the rights to Chukwudiebere Maduabum to Philadelphia in exchange for the right to Cenk Akyol, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.
Akyol, 27, was originally drafted by the Hawks with the 59th overall selection in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft. The 6-6 guard from Turkey plays for Galatasaray of the Turkish Basketball League and has averaged 6.2 points and 1.6 rebounds in 16.9 minutes per game this season.
McGee appeared in 17 games for Denver this season, averaging 5.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 b locks in 11.5 minutes per contest. He had appeared in a total of 121 games (10 starts) in four seasons with the Nuggets, averaging 8.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 17.5 minutes.
Maduabum was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 56th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft before his rights were traded to Denver in a draft-night deal. He most recently appeared in four games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League and seven games for Tallinna Ulikool/Kalev of the Estonian Basketball League.