The NBA is Broken: Superteams, Perspectives, and Britney Spears
November 1, 2010D-Block…You Are Missed
November 1, 2010Though the season is only three games old, there are reportedly some grumblings going on behind the scenes in Independence as a source tells WFNY that the big man would more than welcome a new team to play for. And, if his Dan Fegan-led representation has any say in the matter, the sooner this were to happen, the better.
As insinuated previously at WFNY, this news comes as little surprise given that Varejao is a 28-year old, talented big man who is now on a roster that is at least two years away from contending within the Eastern Conference. Signing a six-year contract under the assumption that LeBron James would be his teammate through the duration, Varejao now finds himself in a situation that is none too desirable for a player in his prime.
The Cavaliers will undoubtedly say that they are very happy with what Varejao brings to the table. And they should as Andy is a fan favorite, most recently being the fifth man introduced to Cavaliers fans at Quicken Loans Arena to a loud ovation. He may be the face of the franchise and is an excellent PR opportunity within the city of Cleveland. They have no intentions of trading the second-team All-Defensive player one week into the season.
The player will continue to say all of the right things, play his heart out on any given night and continue to be a consummate professional. But behind the scenes, as told to WFNY, his representation would gladly welcome a new home – preferably on a contending team – come the end of the 2010-11 season.
Some speculate that Varejao’s extended absence during training camp – recall, Andy spent time with his family during the passing of his grandfather – was very telling given that the big man missed the bulk of two weeks following his loss. Others wish to point to the ill-fated relationship between Varejao’s agent and the Cavaliers given the contract negotiations of the last few seasons, though this may be missing the target as Dan Fegan’s issues were more with former Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry than current GM Chris Grant.
Thankfully, for Cleveland, the Cavaliers do not have to move Varejao. In addition, they may not want to move Varejao, at least as things stand today. Relative to other players on the roster (specifically Jamario Moon, Anthony Parker, Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison), Varejao is neither an expiring contract nor a contract deemed too rich for a rebuilding team. Given that Varejao inked a deal just last season that could keep him in Cleveland through 2014-15 and he plays a premium position, the team has all of the leverage in any negotiations.
Not helping Varejao’s situation is the fact that the Cavaliers have very little depth at center. True colors leaked through this past weekend as Cleveland was outrebounded 89-68 in back-to-back contests against the Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings – the Raptors were 23rd in the NBA in rebounding through the 2009-10 season.
Which leads to what the Cavaliers would need back in a potential deal for Anderson Varejao…
On the outside, it seems clear cut – a contending team with tradable assets, preferably at least one high-upside big man, maybe a draft selection or two. If we want to layer in an additional preference, we could add that it be to a team in the West as teams rarely choose to move players within their own conference. Targeted teams that immediately jump out in this regard are Portland, San Antonio and Oklahoma City; the former of which has been interested in Varejao for quite some time and the latter which offers a ton of youth and upside. As reported earlier this season, the Cavaliers would like to be a third team in a possible deal that would facilitate Denver’s Carmelo Anthony to a team of his liking assuming all of the criteria above is met.
As mentioned previously, the trade market within the first month of the NBA season may as well be an unofficial blackout period. Sure, teams are making calls to test waters, but in the end, teams also prefer to see how things shake out through about 25-30 games of play before they make any roster alterations.
Truth be told, if Anderson Varejao is with the Cavaliers three years down the road, the team missed on a golden opportunity to move what is currently their biggest trade piece. A 31-year-old Varejao then will be a lot different from a 28-year-old Varejao now. It merely comes down to the Cavaliers front office ensuring that they not only receive value that makes this team better in the long run, but also a package that they can spin to a fan base that may be in dire need of positive PR come the time a deal is made.
After all, Varejao bobblehead day is slated for March 8th, well after this year’s trade deadline.
In the meantime, Varejao will continue to suit up for the Cavaliers, hopefully maintain excellent health and help this team close the gap on the boards. Wins continue to be a goal for this franchise despite a weekend sputter – Varejao’s presence on this team undoubtedly makes them better. What the future holds remains to be seen.
Presently, Varejao remains as one of two players that were a part of the Cavaliers team that made it to the 2007 NBA finals. Through two games played in the 2010-11 season, Varejao is averaging 8.0 points (60.0 percent shooting), 9.5 rebounds and a blocked shot in 33 minutes per game. The Cavaliers currently rank 29th in the league in rebounding (35.0 per game) with Varejao amassing 27 percent of the team’s overall total.
(Update: As anticipated, Varejao tells the media that he is “happy in Cleveland.“)
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(Above photos via Flickr and David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
54 Comments
“The player will continue to say all of the right things…”
I see Scott has finished up his Mangini Speak 101 class.
Not terribly surprising, but definitely disappointing. Scott, you hit the nail on the head though, as much as the Cavs desperately need Varejao to be even remotely competitive this year, if he’s still on the team in three years, it’s a waste. This is why it is essential for Dan Gilbert and Chris Grant to formulate a plan for this organization for the long term.
I think Andy would be the perfect fit for Oklahoma City.
If I am honest with myself, which is rare, then I’m actually fairly on board with the Cavs trading Andy to OKC. I want to see the Thunder challenge the current higher order and Andy seems to fit in their system.
As a Cavs fan, its hard to swallow, especially since OKC draft picks, and its the same for any contender, are not likely to be useful anytime in the near future.
@3 and @4 – well, if we have to trade Andy to a contender, I would find some schaudenfraude in trading him to the one team I can somewhat cheer for due to past hatred of the Lakers/Magic/Celtics and current hatred of the Heat.
But, the Thunder did ‘steal’ the Sonics from Seattle (Sonic’s first town much like we are a Brown’s first town), so I have some reservations on it.
And mostly, Presti seems to ALWAYS get the best of any trade. I’d be sort of worried if our first big trade was with him.
In the end, if we trade Andy, I hope it also means we are trading Jamison and possibly Mo. Getting younger, bottoming out, and building this team the right way from the ground up.
We’ll see.
I hope nobody is surprised to learn this about Varejao’s camp hate to say it but the guy who left this past summer wasn’t the only selfish player…and he won’t be the last. The Cavaliers should move Varejao and get the most they can because he isn’t going to be leading this team anywhere.
I have seen some rumblings of the Heat trying to get Boobie from Cleveland…anyone else know anything more about this. Would hate to see Andy go, but see the value of trading him now.
So wait,nobody is going to call out WFNY and their “source?” Anyone remember last time they had a source?
I say trade him and Mo to OKC and get Jeff Green, Mo Pete, and Cole Aldrich plus picks/cash. If we have to trade Andy we have to attach another deal to it. I think that’s a pretty good deal with Peterson expiring, Jeff Green a great talent and Aldrich a decent young big to develop. Mo Williams helps them right away by giving Durant/westbrook a guy to hit 3’s and Andy does what he does.
I see us being able to get Portland to take Jamison around the deadline. He’s a perfect fit for them. Pryzbilla and Andre Miller get that deal done. We can throw in Parker for Cash if they want a Guard who can defend.
“Signing a six-year contract under the assumption that LeBron James would be his teammate through the duration…”
Scott, you wrote the same thing in your last piece about him and not sure the basis for that statement. Many of us thought 3 more years – who assumed 6 more years for LeBron? Fegan knew the risks – now he’s fretting about lost marketibility in what may now be an NBA backwater for years.
Another picked nit: can’t assume Andy will be less effective at 31. His game – the intensity and intangibles- are very similar to Dennis Rodman, who at 31 hadn’t even yet left Detroit to be a crucial piece of the Spurs and then the Bulls.
Rebuilding teams are looking for Varajaos. You hope your high draft pick is a big man like him, you can’t assume that’s what you’ll get. Unless we’re blowing it up, other teams would have to pay higher than a few picks and assets for moving him to make sense.
Wait until the end of the year and see if you can get a high draft pick for him like the Sonics/Thunder did with Ray Allen a few years back if there is someone available that you like.
Unless they are blown away by something in a trade, I see no reason to do anything this year. Is there even a young big guy who can get better that is out there?
Cavs are in trouble. I look at this team and don’t see anyone to build around. There are some good vets on this team, but that doesn’t really help the current state of the Cavs.
Since the day after “The Decision” I have felt it was a foregone conclusion that Andy would eventually be joining LBJ in South Beach. They play so well together, and he would be the perfect role player on that team.
He also enjoys having fun, and that seems to be just as important as basketball to LBJ and crew.
I have seen some rumblings of the Heat trying to get Boobie from Cleveland…anyone else know anything more about this. Would hate to see Andy go, but see the value of trading him now.
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Since the day after “The Decision” I have felt it was a foregone conclusion that Andy would eventually be joining LBJ in South Beach. They play so well together, and he would be the perfect role player on that team.
So, LBJ’s plan all along wasn’t to join a new team, it was to move his current team to Miami?
LeBron = Rachel Phelps???
and i have felt the same way about Boobie.
“They play so well together, and he would be the perfect role player on that team.”
They have absolutely nothing that the Cavs would consider in return for him. Third team mixed in, maybe, but not as presently constructed.
DP – not exaclty, but i think he did see the value in some of those guys. That’s why he called mike miller and told him to wait it out. He know’s the importance of role players.
They are not going to trade Andy to the Heat. Are you crazy?
I actually hope the Cavs get rid of Hickson rather than Andy.
@Josh, I know Andy’s not super expensive but do the Heat even have the cap space for Varejao?
Scott – wasn’t saying they would trade him there anyway, i just think that is where he’d like to go, and they would be happy to have him. I doubt Gilbert wants to do anything to help them out anyway.
Guys it has nothing to do with cap space.
First off, do you think Dan Gilbert is going to trade Andy to the Heat in the first place, much less for Carlos Arroyo and Eddie House?
“Scott, you wrote the same thing in your last piece about him and not sure the basis for that statement. Many of us thought 3 more years – who assumed 6 more years for LeBron?”
The basis for that statement is that maybe I’m not in agreement with “many of you.” From what I’m told, and from what I’ve seen/heard from F.O. individuals, the team was going to go very hard – as they did – with a six-year deal. They did not want to be tied up like they were during this last three-year deal, turning the roster over year after year.
So, to answer your question, I assumed 6 more years for LeBron, along with many others.
@13, LOL
I don’t agree with trading Andy unless, like the Cavs have said, we are blown away by an offer. Also, is the report that Andy is asking for a trade, or that he is open to one? If its the former, I say screw him. He was a whiner about his contract and his holdout really hurt the Cavs a few seasons ago. We paid him more than the market felt he deserved at the time. We gave him a fortune, and he needs to stick it out. If he is just open to a trade, I can’t blame him
To the Heat: No way. They have nothing. Toronto and Cleveland already have all their draft picks and they only have 3 guys I would actually want (but I think they are untouchable).
To the Thunder: Good pieces to get back. They are a team I would love to help them out, as long as we get helped out.
Regarding being a third team to help Carmello move: That doesn’t make sense to me. I understand moving Carmello helps beat the Heat, but if Carmello goes to the East, it does nothing but hurt the Cavs chances 3-4-5 years from now when we are hopefully contenders again. Hesitant
@8 – Izzo!
“Anyone remember last time they had a source?”
Yes, when we had the Danny Green waiving the day before it happened.
Good one, though.
@8 – three years of excellent posts and you go back to one bad one? Clearly it doesn’t bother you too much since you still come back?
@25… lol, well played.
No way we move him anytime soon. Just nothing out there for us to get back that would make it worth it. That would basically kill Gilbert’s ability to sell tickets to the games if you get rid of Andy coupled with the drop off in performance that would surely follow.
Now if we can move Jamison, I’m all in. He seems a couple steps too slow & in a couple months a contender will be needing a good 6th man.
Scott – you’ve missed my point. I’m questioning why you’re repeating as a given that Andy/Fegan assumed LeBron was in Cleveland for another 6 years, regardless of what the Cavs wanted. I’m not asking why you assumed he would be here. They might have signed for financial security, thinking that if LeBron left and Andy’s numbers went down his market value might drop, or any number of reasons. In any case, that the Cavs favored a 6 year contract was irrelevant; LeBron was in the driver’s seat and they would have signed him to any length contract he preferred to keep him.
Ugh… this team without Varejao gets a little too ugly to actually watch. The sooner we can trade Jamison the better. I love his attitude, but man does he look washed up. He’s not exactly helping his trade value right now though… maybe he really does love Cleveland and can’t stand to leave it so he’s sabotaging the chance to be traded? Diabolical, Antawn!
Good riddance you Schmuck. Take your ridiculous contract with you!
the Cavs are at a very odd cusp. If they can win games, and Uncle Dan can prove he is truly the owner for the masses, they may be able to chase free agents. It may seem improbable but if this team can start beating bad teams and stealing from good teams, they may be able to bring Melo and CPT to The Cleveland Clinic Courts. If we can make this team look like it has more upside than NYC, maybe you can get those two to sign here as their superteam, and then you have options from there on out. But the clutch first step – don’t trade Varejao. Make him believe that this squad can and will be bigtime again.
Trade ’em all for some youth and athleticism or in other words draft picks. Through three games you have a snapshot at the rest of the season. For every unaccounted for/big win there will be at least 3-4 losses if not more.
@31 Pass me some of what your smoking please! 😉
@Scott: why do people try to knock your sources when mainstream media people make complete and utter bullsh*t reports from ‘anonymous’ sources on a daily-esque basis and never get callled out on being full of tripe?
“why you’re repeating as a given that Andy/Fegan assumed LeBron was in Cleveland for another 6 years”
Because that is what I was told, numerous times, by several people a lot closer to the situation than I am.
“why do people try to knock your sources when mainstream media people make complete and utter bullsh*t reports from ‘anonymous’ sources on a daily-esque basis and never get callled out on being full of tripe?”
I’d direct that question to them.
@31
After that, maybe I can convince Megan Fox that I have more upside than her hollywood boyfriend.
s reported earlier this season, the Cavaliers would like to be a third team in a possible deal that would facilitate Denver’s Carmelo Anthony to a team of his liking assuming all of the criteria above is met.
what about the trade exception from LeDouche? How do the cavs plan on using that?
“How do the cavs plan on using that?”
With extreme patience. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they hold on to it through this season; they seem geared up to wait until pre-draft. Something may arise by the trade deadline that’s not there now, but I’d circle June if I had to pick a month.
doesn’t the trade exception have to be used this year or its no worthless?
Yes – the Cavs received said exception mid-July. One year to the date.
oh ok. i thought it was for the season, not one calendar year. thanks for the clarification. think jamison will be traded this year?
Man, I’m upset no one likes my trade proposal’s I set fourth in post #9.
In all fairness, I feel this is more of Fegan looking for that next deal than Andy actually being unhappy. Yes, everyone wants to play for the best teams, and I’m sure we’ll start to see many fringe all-star guys tryin to force their hand at forming these super teams. I also think it won’t matter what these guys want after the new CBA next year.
@25/26- Yes we remember the bad ones because in “journalism” you can’t throw out whatever you want and hope you have a good percentage. You are supposed to be 100% right 100% of the time. And the whole Danny Green waiving story is about 5.7 million times less important than the Izzo swing-and-a-miss debacle.
I like this site, it covers what I care about but let’s not act like you are the Washington Post. The writing on here alone proves otherwise. I think everyone will take your “sources” with a grain of salt from now on. We have a right to do that….so take your medicine.
“You are supposed to be 100% right 100% of the time”
Find me one good journalist where this is true.
There’s zero point in trading him to a contender, because contenders don’t have anything to offer. They’re not gonna give us a vital piece, and their draft picks are low. The only way it MIGHT be worthwhile is if there was a 8-9 seed on the cusp, with a few players in contract years, and they would give us a #1 for 2012 or so. Doesn’t seem likely to me.
Thus far, it doesn’t seem like he’s dogging it, and it’s not in his best interests to do that. The best we can do is keep our ears open, and keep the team playing hard.
Oh, and if they reach a new collective bargaining agreement – WAIVE EVERYBODY and hold out for Harrison Barnes!
This would no doubt be a plus for us. He is reckless.
I would love to move Mo, Jamison, and Varejao (packaged any way we can to 2 different west conference teams) for 2 young players and 2 1st rd. draft picks.
Can you imagine next year with our pick (likely a lottery one, especially if we trade these guys), and 2 more 1st rounders? We’d have a trio of young players for years to come and we’d still have Hickson, Sessions, Gibson, plus the 2 other young guys we could pick up in the trade.
Thats a quick turn around from being a washed out declining team to being an up and coming rebuliding team. We just need to focus on drafting the best players.
Related, does anyone know how next years draft class looks? I could of sworn this past years was graded poorly and that the upcoming one was supposed to be strong, but I have no evidence to support this.
Is it idiotic that I believe Varejao is more valuable than Bosh?
“Is it idiotic that I believe Varejao is more valuable than Bosh?”
Not at all, especially since both players are of the “role/system” variety. Bosh has the ability to be a 20/10 guy with some solid percentages, but there are about a dozen others that would fit the same stat mold. Not many have Andy’s intangibles (non-box-score effects).