NBA Free Agency: Anderson Varejao Signed
July 8, 2009While We’re Waiting… More Free Agency, OSU Football Captains and Randy Lerner’s House
July 9, 2009The Cavs have come to an agreement with free agent big man Anderson Varejao. The initial reports indicate that the deal is for 6 years and could be worth as much as $50 million. We don’t know yet if any of those years option years, nor do we know how the dollars are spread out. It is likely that the contract includes incremental raises, as most do.
(UPDATE: Chad Ford is reporting that the deal is for $42.5 over the six years, with incentives that could push it to $50. The final year is also not guaranteed.)
Many are probably scoffing at the idea of Varejao getting more than $6 or $7 million per season, and if you are looking purely at stats he probably will never out-perform that deal. But all along we knew some things about this deal. First, the Cavs had very little leverage. Andy is versatile big man, and those type of players get paid handsomely in this league. Tell me that you would really be excited about giving Zydrunas a hypothetical one year deal for this season at $11.5 million? Or how about paying Ben Wallace $14 million more dollars for his offensive productivity? For that matter, would you have given Shaq $20 million dollars for the upcoming season, because that’s what he is getting paid. Some will point out that Charlie Villanueva received less than what Andy will make, but ask yourself how many centers in this league can Charlie match up against?
The Cavs also need Andy. As has been mentioned before, the free agent well is drying up pretty quickly. The goal since the last game of the Orlando series has been to make this club better in order to win this year. They turned Wallace and Sasha into Shaq. They added Anthony Parker to a backcourt and bench that was dramatically out-scored in the East Finals. They needed to either resign or replace Andy Varejao. They didn’t like their options to replace him after CV signed with Detroit. So they decided to keep hold of what they knew they had in Andy.
What they have is a hustle player that is willing to set screens, take charges and hustle for the ball. I can think of three or four games last year that the Cavs wouldn’t have won if not for offensive rebounds by Varejao at the end of games. No, he isn’t going to cover Dwight Howard one on one. Now he doesn’t have to.
With the signing of Parker, the Cavs have likely only one option left for free agents, and that is a bi-annual exemption worth around $2 million dollars. Not enough to replace Varejao. You can shout sign and trade, but I ask you what exactly is it that the Cavs are going to trade? Zydrunas? Isn’t that option still open? As we know that would require a buyout, and I don’t think many teams are already looking at dumping salary before they start selling game tickets.
Danny Ferry has built this team through trades. If the Cavs need to make a move down the road in order to get another piece or free up space to sign another player he will make the moves necessary. They weren’t going to get Bosh in a trade this summer. They were never in the running for most of the free agent PFs because they couldn’t spend more than the MLE. They could with Andy. And that was the best move they could make.
42 Comments
ah im a little shakey on the 6 year contract but im not bailing on the team like most of the commentors on cleveland.com. and we still dont have the details on the contract…
even though lebron treats everyone on the team like his best buddy, you can tell theres a chemistry there between these two, and a lot of it was starting to show a lot more this season what with their pick and rolls and those nifty little backdoor plays.
i didnt want to see him go but at the same time, 6 years is a long time…well, as with everything else thats gone on this off season, ill just file this under the “lets just see what happens”.
Windhorst told me no way they trade Z before the season starts. Wrong move I think.
My guy with Andy is faster than Windy and Chad Ford. I think he needs a payraise.
It is wrong to compare this move to the signing of Chris Anderson by the Denver Nuggets. He received something close to the bi-annual because he has never been a starter in the NBA, and at age 31 will not be getting any better any time soon.
Varejao at age 26 has the potential still to work alongside James, Mo, and Delonte for many years to come in a Cavaliers uniform. This gives us about $43 million guaranteed for 2010-2011 with Gibson and Jackson factored in, not including the option for Hickson nor the salary number on Parker or Frye.
sure, its a palatable move at this stage in the game – but not when evaluating what could have been. you’re looking for solace anywhere you can get it.
So what could have been MVR? Artest was not coming to Cleveland for the MLE. Ariza? One good postseason and he’s worth $6 million a year? Think of what we had to work with (the MLE and Biannual) and show me who signed contracts that small that would have been better.
Since we decided to go ahead and get Shaq, I think we almost HAD to get Andy. Andy is an extremely good pick and roll defender and Z and Shaq are particularly horrible at it.
Honestly I can’t think of many PF that are better defensively than Varejao other than Duncan and Garnett.
With two big immobile centers, we needed a PF that can make up for their inequities, and Varejao does that.
Also, what do anyone expect?! Didn’t Varejao opt out of a 6 mil a year option? I mean, he obviously wanted more than that. I’m just glad we didn’t give him 10 like Feagan said he was getting offered from other teams.
Actually, the MLE is for a dollar amount and not per player. You can sign 2-3 players with just the MLE. By not giving Parker the full amount the Cavs still have the bi-annually and whatever is left over of the MLE after you subtract out Parker’s contract. Why is this important? Because it will allow the Cavs to pay more for that veteran that gets cut at the trade deadline as Boston, LA, SA have used their full MLE. What stink is that Orlando just landed an $8 million trade exception becuase of the Marion deal to Dallas.
I still don’t think Varejao should be starting. Another trade option would be to use Szczerbiak’s bird rights, sign him to a big one year deal, send him to New Orleans (NO would probably cut him, he would end up getting 6 or 7 million payoff and would be a free agent agian) for Tyson Chandler (and maybe another contract to make the money work) to go to Philly, the Cavs would get Elton Brand. They may as well take the risk to get Brand, there probably isnt going to be enough cap space to get someone else in 2010 anyways.
Rotation:
C : Shaq, Z
PF: Brand, Varejao
SF: James, Green
SG: West, Parker
PG: Williams, Gibson
Now if only they could get a true point guard somewhere…
Can anyone tell me, what does this do for our payroll next year? Will we still be able to make a run at bosh?
Don’t take this the wrong way but andy did a bad job with orlando.
1)Most likely your opp will run the pick on roll on shaq or Z not andy.
2)He’s not spectacular on help side D.
3)He has no mid range game which the cavs need desperately
4)His passing skill is decent
5)He’s basically a gloried backup for now shaq and z which I don’t think they need.
6)Their is no teams out their that even wants this guy or said it publicly which speaks volumes.
7)So why pay for a guy that nobody is really interested in and just low ball him (what do you think Lakers are doing to Oden)
8)Lamar Oden is far better player then Andy and he can’t even get a 10 million dollar offer so why do the cavs think Andy even deserves the 42-50 million is beyond me.
# 6 Tsunami Says:
Honestly I can’t think of many PF that are better defensively than Varejao other than Duncan and Garnett.
With two big immobile centers, we needed a PF that can make up for their inequities, and Varejao does that.
What I’d like to know what alleged teams were offering 10 million a year for Andy Varejao? If any of those teams were Memphis, Minnesota, or the Clippers than that speaks volumes about Danny Ferry.
I think when looked at in whole, it looks outrageous. However, he’s only going to be making about a million more per year than he did last season.
The biggest issue I have is that 1) this was our only option – never a good position to be in, and 2) we STILL need a PF that can stretch the floor and defend the wing…
Doc: We’re hearing Blazers and Thunder… I’m still not buying it.
The 2010 Free Agency free for all is not going to happen due to the reduction in cap space. All the main guys (LBJ, Wade, Bosh, Melo) will probably just re-up for 1 more year, then see where the cap sits for 2011. The guys risk losing abut $1.5 to $2.0 (based on what your original estimate of the 2010 cap was) if they opt out. And what we know, is these guys never risk a nickel.
That was $1.5-2.0 million
Great Post. I agree with all of your comments. This para is the key – and why it was so hugely impt that the cavs got their big shogun to patrol the middle of the painted area.
“What they have is a hustle player that is willing to set screens, take charges and hustle for the ball. I can think of three or four games last year that the Cavs wouldn’t have won if not for offensive rebounds by Varejao at the end of games. No, he isn’t going to cover Dwight Howard one on one. Now he doesn’t have to.”
lastly – guys like that dont come cheap. its hard to find guys in the NBA to do the dirty work for you. would i have rather paid him 6 or 7 mm, sure – but if ferry plays hard ball over 1-2mm dollars, this forum blows up ripping ferry faster then i can type….
But, hey.
At least we have chemistry, right?
Hi,
Andy is getting paid about 6.5mill next year. Go look up team payrolls, there are soooooo many mediocre players making 8 figures. 6 mill is pretty standard for the 5th spot on a decent team.
And for people wanting better. THERE AREN’T ANY OPTIONS SO QUIT SAYING THAT.
I think this is a solid deal. Big men don’t grow on trees and get paid a lot. Worst case scenario, Andy’s production stays the same for the next 4 years and we trade his expiring contract. I would be content. If his offense continues improving at a modest pace this could look like a steal in 2-3 years.
Scott and Swig have it right. While it certainly isn’t ideal, Andy’s contract is more-or-less standard. Combined with the fact the free agent pool has quickly run dry and that Andy is a fan-fave, it’s not as terrible as some of you are treating it.
I think Channing Frye would have been a better pickup.. but I understand that we didn’t have that option b/c Andy has brid rights and we are allowed to go over the cap to sign bird rights players… How many times are we gonna let this guy take advantage of us?? We should have let him go when he was holding out a couple of years ago. Now he opts out trying to make his money.. and comes crawling back to us.. so we resign him for MORE money than he was making even though no body else wanted him. It’s crap… He better be a bench player behind JJ… That’s his role.. energy off the bench and that’s when he’s at his best.. If JJ’s back is healthy I think it’s his time to shine… what is he now 20 years old??
GO CAVS!!!!!!!!!
@Matt- I really hope nobody is expecting JJ Hickson to play a large role on this team this season. His back should be a concern especially since they did nothing but rest it, and he still isn’t ready to play. And I hate to say it, but this kid is not the sharpest basketball mind. He struggled to pick up the most basic concepts last year. No way Brown gives this kid significant minutes unless he shows better grasp at the defensive end.
@Rick- are you saying that Andy is better on the D end?? B/c I’m trying to rack my brain here and I just don’t think that Andy is a big defender of anything. He gets charges and he gets opponents mad at him and his antics causing Ray Allen to elbow him below the belt. But, I think JJ has the talent and the speed to stay on Rashard Lewis which Andy would abandoned him during the ECF and stepped into the paint leaving Lewis open for three’s all night… I think Andy is limited in his all around game and I think even at 26 he has hit his ceiling. Whereas JJ has become no where near his own ceiling. I’m a type of guy who let’s people grow into their talent (unless we’re talking about a rookie QB) on the field and not on the bench. Shaq will be a better teacher to JJ than Z could ever be. And if LBJ can get JJ in on his workout regime he may be able to get some size and be a force with his back to the basket… I signed up for ‘Body by Bron’ and I’m a force too
“Hey, Joe: J.J. is working out and doing some rehab. I wouldn’t put the word “untouchable” next to J.J., but it’s pretty close. The Cavs front office has a strong belief he will be a core player soon, and they have no intention of trading him.”
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2009/07/hey_brian_cleveland_plain_deal_1.html
Doesn’t say this season, but I think it’s safe to say from Windy’s response there that the Cavaliers themselves have high hopes for JJ. I do not share in their optimism, though. I agree with Rick….his inability to pick up any of the schemes and the way he always looked lost on the court was a HUGE concern for me.
@ # 24 – JJ might have the speed and talent to stay on Rashard Lewis… if he’s not in traction.
Andy has shown consistent improvement on offense, and has the pick and roll game with LeBron down to a science. His defense is solid, and yes – he struggled with Lewis but pretty much anybody would. JJ couldn’t stick with him, I’m sure of that.
If they paid me $250k a year, I would go into the game and punch the opposing big man in the twigs and berries a couple of times. That salary would fit under the MLE. Plus, no one would come inside on the Cavs knowing “Junk Punch” was under the hoop.
I would even grow out a big floppy hairdo.
I like what Ferry has done overall. The Cavs have always said that they wanted to bring Andy back, and given the way the free agency market played out, they had to ensure that they got him back. I think 6 years is maybe a tad too long, but the final year isn’t guaranteed. Sounds like they’ll end up paying him a little over 7 million per year plus potential incentives, which may be a little higher than he’s worth, but in my mind is not unreasonable.
I also like the Parker signing – another salary friendly deal for a player with more experience and better offensive game than Ariza. He can easily step in and play Wally and Sasha’s minutes and contribute either as a starter or from the bench. My only concern is his age, but this isn’t a long term big money signing.
So overall the Cavs parted with Sasha, Wallace and Wally and got Shaq and Parker into the fold. I’d say that’s a pretty solid offseason.
There’s a spot for one more player, which some have speculated will be Frye. I’d be fine with that, though Brown is really going to have to work with him on his defense. If Frye heads to Phoenix though, as some have speculated, I think the Cavs should just go ahead and reup with Joe Smith for another year. Obviously he’s no spring chicken anymore, but he can still be a solid role player and is a good teammate.
I remain concerned that we don’t really have a backup point guard. With Parker on the team, it will be interesting to see how Brown uses these pieces. I’m beginning to think that bringing Delonte off the bench as the 6th man and starting Parker might be the way to go. Boobie doesn’t really have the ball handling skills to be a backup PG, which makes Delonte the backup. I think Delonte is underutilized early in games anyway because he is basically turned into just a spot up shooter, when he’s got the ability to create his own shot and to get into the lane. As the backup PG, there’d be more opportunities for him to do that.
I’m also a little concerned about how Andy and Shaq will work in the starting lineup, since Andy’s strength is cutting inside without the ball. Hopefully Andy will continue to improve on his mid-range game to keep defenses honest.
It looks like this team is going to be really formidable. On paper, I think Ferry has done as well, or really better, than anyone else except possibly the Spurs.
Andy is never going to be an all-star, but he can be a solid starter for years, and is only going to improve for the next 2-3 years.
Does anyone know about Frye?
Also, why the Cavs didn’t make a push for Marvin Williams is beyond me. A younger, more athletic and more developed version of Trevor Ariza? Do want.
I heard on WTAM this morning that the some of the incentives are based on making the All-Star team (they didn’t say how much), so I doubt Andy will ever get close to $50 million.
@ 25- Wasn’t JJ only 19 last year? And you guys are all worried about his awareness on the court? It’s something to worry about eventually. But the guy was taking the bumps of the game and playing beside a guy he’s been watching since he was 14. So it’s understandable to be worried about his knowledge and his ability to play at a high level. I guess I just don’t want to see JJ coming off the bench for the next 6 years. That’s the point I’m trying to make here. If I had to choose between JJ or Andy as the Power Forward for the next 6 years. I’d choose a 20 year old kid over the 26 year old guy who just keeps trying to get out of Cleveland and holding us hostage for more money.
@27 Omega King- I think Danny Ferry would be dumb not to sign you as the enforcer down low. The “Junk Punch” is an effective strategy and I thing a good nickname would be the “The basketBall Buster”. I’d pay to see the “BBall Buster” playing alongside the King and the Lake Erie Monster.
Matt, you have a completely different view than everyone else. Just agree to disagree. Although, if you have any interest in winning NOW you would always take the 26 year old.
So what if Andy makes $50mill if he’s on the all-star team. Would anyone complain about paying an all-star PF $8mill/year? Anyone?
@Matt
I think the issue is that a team that is contending for a title cannot afford to teach from a starting position. I have issues with Varejao’s offense as well, but competitive teams starting rookies is a great way to take themselves out of competition. He needs to earn more playing time by showing that he is picking up the lessons from practice in the limited minutes he’s already getting, and instead he’s so far shown how he fails to box out on defense and gets owned by Lamar Odom.
I think JJ should definitely be on the track to becoming a starter in the future, but he’s simply not good enough to crack the top 5 right now. The rest of the starters can compensate for Andy’s offensive limitations, but the Cavs’ help and recover defensive system is considerably hamstrung by Hickson’s inability to pick up the schemes.
I just have a general question for a lot of people.
How much did the Cavs improve this off season? Their goals (as reported) were to find a “stretch 4” and to get a large mobile wing. Did they accomplish enough to do that? Aren’t they still 1 player away from being a championship team, or do many of you guys think they would beat the lakers or spurs as it stands?
I personally dont think they will be tremendously better. With Shaq, they will obviously have a different style then last year, and I think if they have another SF then they could get big match-up problems playing LBJ at the 4, and then maybe a Parker, West, Mo 1-3, or maybe Green surprises and plays some minutes and is that spot up shooter. They definitely failed to go for a stretch 4 though, and I don’t see anyone to fill that now. I just have a bad feeling that a lot of teams got significantly better since the playoffs, and the Cavs stayed par. If they are in the Finals against the Lakers or Spurs, I think they lose in 5-6 games.
From the Cavs view this was an absoluely necessary signing, and at the right, fair market price. Given the bad blood during negotiations just a couple of years ago, it’s pretty amazing that he’s back here at any price, and it’s mostly due to the economy.
Denny, re your comment that “Andy has shown consistent improvement on offense, and has the pick and roll game with LeBron down to a science,” the socond part of that statement is a lot more accurate than the first. His moving without the ball is good, and he’s got that reverse lay up down pat. But his shooting has regressed, if anything. The dude gets the ball 8-12 feet from the basket, unguarded, about 5 times a game, he thinks a little, and then usually panics and pivots around to pass off. He was more comfortable with that shot in the ’07-’08 season before he was hurt. If he could just shorten his foul shot with a little set shot from there he might have doubled his contract, but he hasn’t, and at age 26 with his first big guaranteed money, maybe now he won’t even have that much incentive to bother trying.
@ EZ- I have wrote off convincing anybody that Andy isn’t the four we need. Regarding Andy you either love him or hate him. I tend to lean towards the hate him side. And I was just looking at the players we have and I see a guy whom I think has more talent than another player we have. So I was just giving my opinion on what I see and what I like in a player. If we would have not resigned Andy and brought in a Paul Millsap or a Chuck Villanueva or even a guy like Channing Frye then I would have a different view on who should be starting right now. But we didn’t, we brought Andy back. I thought that Ben should have returned to the Starting 5 when he got back from his injuries last year b/c his style fit well with the starting 5 and Andy’s style fits well with the bench players. The team is comprised of role players around LBJ and each player is to fill that role. I don’t mind Andy when he doesn’t put the ball on the floor and last year he tended not to do that as much as in the past
@ bobby – why does a team who won a league-leading 66 games last year have to become “tremendously better”? The Shaq and Parker acquisitions have made this team better, and that’s an accomplishment given that they were already, in Shaq’s words, “a damn good team.” Boston and Orlando figure to be the best teams in the East next year. We already matched up well with Boston and will be even better positioned now with Shaq down low. Orlando did us a favor by trading away Hedo and losing much of their length on the perimeter which gave us problems. VC will no longer be a matchup problem for West or Parker. Parker also gives us some length on the perimeter defensively, and Shaq’s addition will obviate the need for us to double team Howard and then rush out to the 3 point line. The Lakers and the Spurs are both going to be a load if we got to the Finals and faced either, but the Spurs are still an older team with major injury risks and the Lakers will have the burden (and it is a burden) or defending their championship. That doesn’t happen much anymore because it’s tough to keep that hunger up.
@ Matt – Andy might not be the PF we “need” but he was the PF we could get. He’s already shown with his hustle and intangibles that he has a valuable role to play on this team. He can also play center in a pinch, which is a nice insurance policy and not something you’re going to get from any of your listed desires. As for those desires, Villanueva wasn’t coming here for the MLE, and Paul Millsap, who is a restricted free agent, isn’t going to get out of Utah for the MLE. (Reportedly, the Blazers are preparing to offer Millsap all of the cap room they have, around 10 mil/yr that they were going to give to Hedo.) As for Frye, he’s someone who the Cavs might still get for the bi-annual or what’s left of our MLE after the Parker signing – his name is still being linked with the Cavs. I understand why you feel that Andy has some deficiencies in his game, but I’m not sure you’re being realistic about what our true options were the PF.
This is about the going rate for a younger big man. It is essentially a 5 year deal, as most of the last year is not guaranteed.
At 42.5 for 6 years, that is a little over 7 million a year. He would have made 6.7 if he had not opted out, so it was only a modest raise.
Also, all of the incentives are tied to Andy making the All-Star team which is probably not going to happen. If he improved enough to make the All-Star team, then we will end up with a steal at that price.
As far as Parker goes, they only used a portion of the MLE, so there is the rest of the MLE and the Bi-Annual still to use. They could potentially land Frye for one of these and another player. I expect them to add at least one more impact player. Who knows, there still could be a trade somewhere in the balance as well.
There really wasn’t much else that the Cavs could have done with the money they had available. All of the bigger names either had their mind already made up or signed for more money than the Cavs could offer.
As far as 2010, with the salary cap decreasing, it will be hard for any of the teams with cap space to land 2 Max players, let alone the Cavs doing it. They will have dollars to add a nice player, just not a max deal outside of LeBron. In a way, this works to the Cavs favor because LeBron may now consider signing an extension where he wouldn’t have before. The chance of Wade or Bosh and James both landing on the same team are dramatically decreased.
That last paragraph is a bald-faced lie. Either that, or somebody is not paying attention. How does three players on a roster equate to “Danny Ferry has built this team through trades?” There are the two tweener backcourt midgets and the 100-year-old overeating center. Who else?
Bobby, From not being a Cavs fan or being a Cavs fan. I follow shaq around.
West and Mo will take you to the playoffs but it seems to me they have the dirt effect when in the playoffs. Granted they played well during the playoffs but you need to take your game to even a higher lvl during these times. If you look at all championship teams that’s what happen.
MO-1 Gibson-1
Parker-2 West-2
James-3 Empty
frye-4 Andy*
shaq-5* Z-5*
*shaq with his age cannot play 30 mins so most likey share his minutes with Andy and Z
Parker can guard all the superstars.
LBJ can guard the player who give every team mismatches.
Shaq can clog the middle.
Frye because of his weak D but great help side D will be put on the Shaqs man which usually never see a min but put in for fouling shaq or trying to defend shaq.
Offensively this squad is your best bet
LBJ in his ability to draw double teams
Shaq of course can still draw double teams down low
MO, Parker, frye will be spot up shooters
Frye is accurate at the 10-15 foot range but can also hit the 3’s, good passer, and help side D (andy can never fill this shoe)
Bad side of Frye he sucks at rebounding and bad on D
Parker is as good as west on offense but can be the stopper you guys need on D against the best in the league.
I’m still hoping we either move Z or as my grandpa calls him “The Stick Man” or Andy (not realistic).. Since the salary cap is drastically decreasing in 2010 and we won’t be able to get the Big Names we’d like.. we can use this year with a expiring contract to get the PF we desperately need or a taller (starting) SG we desperately want and play DWest as backup PG.. Why not move him (Z) for a Marcus Camby?.. He has a longer contract and Z could either pursue a buyout with LAC or just retire after next year freeing them up some cap space. I’m not totally against us trading for Booz, but I doubt Utah would take that unless Z retires leaving them that money this year.. b/c Booz’ contract is up next year… I think Andre Kirelinko (a player the Jazz want out) would be a decent addition if we can work the right trade.. I believe he’s about 6’8-6’10 an exact replica of Rashard Lewis, too. A good 2 guard we could pursue, in a trade that is, would be Marvin Williams.
“Another rumor that Bob Finnan of the News Herald threw out was the Cavs moving guard/forward Wally Szczerbiak and forward/center J.J. Hickson to Charlotte for forward Gerald Wallace in a sign-and-trade. One thing that might hold up that deal is the fact that Wallace has four years and almost $40 million left on his contract, and the Cavs might not want to take on that kind of big contract with next year’s critical year for the franchise coming up.”-Matt Loede…
http://www.examiner.com/x-1616-Cleveland-Cavaliers-Examiner~y2009m7d9-Whats-the-Cavs-next-move-and-who-does-it-involve
I don’t know how I feel about this… Where would we play Wallace?? At 6’7 he’s too small to play the four.. do we play him at the 2? Do we move LBJ up to the 4 b/c of his size not just height?