Anderson Varejao Has Given Up on the Cavs

Things have gotten so bad between Anderson Varejao and Cavs GM Danny Ferry that he told ESPN's Chad Ford that he no longer wants to play in Cleveland.

"I just want to be treated fairly and I don't think Danny's done that."
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"I wanted to come back," he said. "I love the fans and I really love my teammates. But there are others there that have made it very difficult. It's gotten to the point that I don't want to play there anymore. I'm just hoping for a sign-and-trade at this point."

Varejao also made it clear that he's the one behind the decision to hold out for more money, not agent Dan Fegan. And because he's the one calling the shots, he was surprised and perhaps a little put off by the fact Ferry tried to ambush him with a surprise visit to Brazil:

"I was shocked," Varejao said. "He showed up and wanted me to sign a contract. I told him he's got to talk to my agent. He didn't even up his offer. I guess he thought if he just showed up, I would just sign whatever he gave me."

At this point, it seems like the only way Varejao will sign with the Cavs is if Ferry works out a sign-and-trade. If Varejao holds out or plays in Europe (which he suggested he'd be willing to do), he'll still be a restricted free agent next summer, but he just doesn't seem to care. He could sign the $1.2 million qualifying offer made by the Cavs to retain his restricted free agent rights, but he doesn't sound like he has any interest in being underpaid yet again:

I don't think I'll be happy in Cleveland knowing that I was [almost] the lowest-paid player there for three years and am still paid much less than players on the team that I outperform. Life's too short to be unhappy."

And being paid, apparently, is the equivalent of happiness. (It's true! Just ask Kobe Bryant or Jason Kidd.)