Anderson Varejao Price Check

[Heart-of-RnR]

Anderson Varejao decided to hold out as a restricted free agent this summer hoping to strongarm Cleveland into paying him at least 8 mil per year.

Now he's in the first year of a three-year contract where he makes the MLE. Varejao can opt-out of his third year to make another attempt at free agency.

In the meantime, he's been playing a lot less like the 8-10 million he requested and a lot more like the 5.6 million he's earning; maybe less.

Regardless of his poor play, there's a good chance that the Cavs will try to shop him this summer to avoid having to worry about his contract come 2010.

The Cavs also have a handful of big contracts that will become expirings next season.

All these things considered, what might you consider a reasonable trade involving Varejao and possibly another Cavs player?

[LiquidFire]

somone please offer a legit 2 gaurd, who can shoot, and defend the 2 spot and 3. or another Big.

[swirsk]

If the Raptors acquire a star wing player...

Anthony Parker + Kris Humphries for Varejao?

[NetsForce]

A Marko Jaric for Anderson Varejao trade makes some sense for both the Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves.

[midranger]

Redd + Gadzuric for Varejao + 1st rounder + expirings.

[N.O.R.E.]

A Redd for Varejao deal makes a lot of sense for both teams. Take out Gadz and the 1st rounder and put in Wally+Bobby Simmons.

[DowJones]

The problem is that Andy is very important to this team when he is playing good basketball...which he has not done since coming back from the ankle injury.

I would probably have to do a Redd-Gadzuric deal for expiring contracts and Varejao though. Redd is too good to pass up if you are Cleveland.

[TheOUTLAW]

A Marko Jaric for Anderson Varejao trade makes some sense for both the Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Not in my opinion, please explain why you think it makes sense.

Varejao hasn't played particularly well this year compared to last year, but I think that might have more to do with the holdout (or at least that's what I hope). He hasn't played terribly, but he hasn't played as smart as he had in previous years.

[Super Bad]

Last year when Andy came in to the game good things happened. He would get charges, have some nice rebounds, and he know his role on offense. This year he has gotten reckless on the offense end and he dosen't know his place. He is still one of the best role players in the NBA and I think that the Cavs need to keep him.

[N.O.R.E.]

What about a Varejao for Jaric, and a re-signed Gomes?

[DowJones]

Cleveland says no to any deal that includes Jaric. Jaric is an average PG making too much money for the next 3 years. Why would Cleveland dump AV to get Jaric and his bloated contract? I don't even think Jaric would start for Cleveland.

Now if Minnesota is looking to get rid of Jaric's contract and wants a big like Varejao, Cleveland may do some type of deal where they include Varejao, expirings, and their 1st round pick in exchange for Jaric and Randy Foye.

[N.O.R.E.]

^The Wolves would only probably consider that if they landed Derrick Rose.

[shrink]

Two non-MIN posters mentioned Jaric, so I thought I'd toss in my two cents.

I haven't been impressed with Varejao, but I'm sure most CLE fans haven't been impressed with Jaric either. I do think though that each might be more valuable on the other's team. Jaric is what he is, with strengths and limitations. However, a pass-first guy on the floor with LeBron, Wally, Gibson, West, or even Sasha might not be a bad fit.

Ryan Gomes was probably MIN's second best player last season, and I think he'll be re-signed, and MIN would be reluctant to put him in a deal for Vareajo. Gomes might get paid $4 mil, so it might be tough to salary-match as well.

However, I've thought that Craig Smith might be a nice fit. He's an excellent inside scorer who's quickness allows him to get his shot over anyone. His lack of size may be less of an issue in the East, particularly with 7' 3" Zyd.

Financially, it makes a tough salary match without both sides adding an expiring. This matches up almost exactly:

Jaric + Buckner ($4 mil exp) + Craig Smith ($2.5-$3.0 mil S&T)

for

Varajao + Eric Snow


Personally, I'm ambivalent to the trade, but the players may fit better on each other's teams. ::shrug::

[TheOUTLAW]

I think most Cavs fans are very happy with Delonte. He's definitely been pass first (even more than I think he should be). Not to mention the Cavs front line is all over 30 except Varejao. I just don't see them moving him at all. I really am viewing this year as more of an aberration than it is a trend for him. He needs to have a good year next year just so that it'd make sense for him to opt out of his contract.

[DowJones]

Jaric has 3 years left on his contract though. Andy has 2 years at the most...one year if he declines his option for the 2009-2010 season. Why would Cleveland pay good money for the 3 years to Jaric when he won't even see much time behind West and Boobie? And you also want Cleveland to get rid of a big-time expiring contract? That deal just doesn't make sense for Cleveland.

The best case scenario is that Andy and Marko are equal in talent. If that is the case, and I am inclined to think that Varejao is more important than Jaric anyways, why would Cleveland trade a C/PF with 1-2 years on his contract for a PG that has 3 years left on his contract?

Jaric is a negative at this point. He is a guy who won't produce much and eats up salary cap space for the next 3 years.

[Hunter]

I'd like to have him in Detroit, although it's unlikely we'd be trade partners.

We need to turn one of Dice or Maxiell into a backup C. Preferably Dice. His stats are as good if not better than Varejao, but he's 33 and makes even more money with 2 years remaining on the deal. Maybe Dice & Afflalo for Varejao & Devin Brown? Afflalo was our 1st round pick last year, and kinda in that Raja Bell mold. Great defender, smart player, although he needs to add a consistent 3 pt shot.

[shrink]

I don't think you know who Jaric is. Varejao is flexible enough to play PF/C, and Jaric is just a PG? When hasn't Jaric seen playing time? Heck, he was starting on the Wolves, even though they clearly are youth-oriented. His uniqueness of size and handles is what gives a team another look -- saying "we'd just play West and Boobie all the time" doesn't take that into account.

Look, I can understand saying "Jaric isn't worth his contract" or however, many people say the same thing about Varejao, which is why you're getting straight up suggestions between the two from neutral posters. However, sayign he's a PG that will never see floor time is just incorrect. Jaric can play three positions, and he makes the other players on the floor better (can Varejao say that?), which is why he gets court time. It may be a little too expensive, but "uselessness" is not a legitimate complaint, as far as I'm concerned.

No one mentioned 24-year old Craig Smith, so I wondered what your thoughts on him in CLE would be?

[Maritimer]

If the Raptors acquire a star wing player...

Anthony Parker + Kris Humphries for Varejao?

I'd be interested in that from a Raptors POV.

[TheOUTLAW]

I thougth that the argument from Raps fans was that Varejao was basically Humphries.

Jaric would definitely see playing time on the Cavs. His size is actually needed since we no longer have Hughes but I don't think he'd play before Gibson, West and probably Sasha (if we can find where we left last years Sasha). I really just think that the holdout hurt both Varejao's and Sasha's game since they weren't working out for fear of getting injured. I really think that the Cavs keep both.

[loserX]

I can see Jaric having use on the Cavs as TheOUTLAW points out, but I don't think shrink's deal works. If Smith is only going to get $3M/yr. the Cavs can just offer him that, or more, in FA and dare the Wolves to match. The Wolves are worried about the tax and the Cavs clearly aren't.

He's not enough value to turn Jaric into an expiring AND get Varejao back. The Wolves would need to add more.