Anderson Varejao Out for Season with Torn Achilles
Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao has reportedly suffered a torn Achilles tendon and will miss the remainder of the season.
The team announced the diagnosis and provided details on his timetable for return:
"Additional examination and MRI today at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health have revealed a torn left achilles tendon. While it is anticipated that Varejao will miss the remainder of the 2014-15 season, a timetable for his return to basketball activity will be developed after he has surgery in the near future to repair the achilles and his rehabilitation process is established.
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Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports offered the initial report on Varejao's injury Wednesday:
Varejao, 32, has played an integral role for the Cavaliers this season in the paint. Averaging 9.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, Varejao has started 26 games this year after starting just 29 of 65 games last season.
Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated offered his take on the injury:
If Varejao truly can't return to the floor for Cleveland this season, reserve big man Brendan Haywood could receive a major increase in playing time. The Cavaliers might also move Tristan Thompson into the starting center role after toying with that idea prior to the season.
Chris Haynes of The Plain Dealer mentioned another possible direction:
Cleveland has a plethora of weapons in LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love to thrive in the East. However, the loss of Varejao would be a crippling one to the Cavaliers' frontcourt, and perhaps their title chances as well.
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