Anderson Varejao Contract: Latest News and Rumors on Negotiations with Cavs
Updates from Friday, Oct. 31
The Cleveland Cavaliers confirm the contract extension:
Updates from Thursday, Oct. 30
Marc Stein of ESPN reported on Anderson Varejao's negotiations with the Cleveland Cavaliers:
Original Text
Anderson Varejao has played the first decade of his NBA career in Cleveland. The Cavaliers front office appears committed to ensuring he's part of the organization for life.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported Monday that Cleveland and its high-energy big man were engaged in "serious" contract extension negotiations. Wojnarowski noted that no deal is imminent, so it's unlikely the two sides will have an announcement in place by opening night.
Varejao must agree to a contract extension by the veteran contract modification deadline at the end of February. The Brazilian is in the final season of a six-year, $48 million deal he signed in 2009. Because of rules put in place by the new collective bargaining agreement, Varejao cannot agree to an extension longer than three years.
At age 32 and heading into his 11th NBA season, though, a three-year deal would likely take Varejao to the end of his career. The 2004 second-round pick has been a mainstay with the Cavaliers despite upheaval across the rest of the roster, with his career spanning the first LeBron James era, the post-LeBron nadir and the prodigal son's return.
Varejao is one of James' closest NBA confidants. Head coach David Blatt admitted part of the reason he chose Varejao over Tristan Thompson to start at center this season was his on-court chemistry with James.
"That was more or less the idea of beginning with Andy, just because those two guys are so good together," Blatt said, per Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal. "It has a lot to do with the fit and with the fact that Tristan can play coming off the bench, he's pretty good at it. For me they're both starters."
Wojnarowski weighed in on Varejao's importance to the Cavaliers' success, stating, "Varejao is considered one of the NBA's most aggressive rebounders and defenders, elements that'll be vital in competing against the physicality of the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference this season."
Varejao averaged 8.4 points and 9.7 rebounds last season in 65 games, his most extended run of health since 2009-10. The 6'11" center has made it through only three NBA seasons missing fewer than 10 games. Since James' departure prior to the 2010-11 campaign, Varejao has missed 166 of a possible 312 games, in large part due to sacrificing his body playing defense.
"Varejao puts his body in harm's way doing this, and he has missed a ton of games. An injury to Cleveland's best big-man defender would be catastrophic to its title hopes," said Zach Lowe of Grantland earlier this month.
His health is clearly seen as critical to Cleveland's success this season, given his rebounding and defensive ability inside. James may be the driving force of the Cavaliers, but it is the pieces surrounding him that may ultimately determine if the Cavaliers will compete for a championship this season.
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