Anderson Varejao Got What He Wanted

By now it seems a foregone conclusion that Cleveland will match Charlotte's offer sheet and Anderson Varejao will be return to the Cavs, but Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer points out that it wouldn't be completely unreasonable for the Cavs to let him walk.

For one, the team is already over the luxury tax threshold, which means signing him will cost the team upwards of $10 million a season. I don't think there's any chance whatsoever that the Cavs let him walk, but if anything that gives perspective on why the team was so hesitant to meet his alleged demands for $9 million a year.

But no matter where he ends up playing, I can't see how anyone can describe his holdout as anything but a remarkable success. Bill Livingston of the Cleveland Plain Dealer apparently disagrees:

So Anderson Varejao's mindless holdout was a big flop.

The money in the $17.4 million, three-year offer sheet Charlotte gave him is less annually ($5.8 million to $6.4 million) than the five-year, $32 million deal the Cavaliers first offered. The Cavs are almost certain to match it and retain Varejao for the first two years of the deal. At that point, he is free to take his game elsewhere as one gosh-darn attractive free agent, as long as some team's heart's desire is seven points and seven rebounds per game.

Varejao reportedly wanted $45 million over five years, but the Cavs would only pay $32 million over five. When negotiations reached a stalemate, Varejao said he'd be willing to sign a one-year deal worth $5 million, but Danny Ferry balked, saying the only one-year deal the Cavaliers would offer was the $1.2 million qualifying offer they made earlier in the summer.

So what happens? Varejao ended up with what's essentially a two year deal worth $12.2 million. And that's a flop? Turning 1.2 million into 10 times that? Setting himself up so that he'll be a free agent at the prime age of 27 years old when, if the Cavs deal really was worth the market rate, he'll have no trouble finding a similar deal if not more? If anything, Varejao and his agent absolutely abused Ferry, not the other way around.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-06-2007 @ 8:55AM

Trent said...

Ferry is not the master that LeBron makes him look like. It is apparent that LeBron has no talent around him. Look at the performance of the team without him. Ferry you need to get your butt in gear and get LeBron some talent or you will end up with a team that performs like the team did the last three games and be out of a job. ferry, you nessed up the Boozer deal now you are preceding to mess up the entire future of the Cavs. Get busy and find a point guard for this team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12-05-2007 @ 11:43AM

Brian said...

i disagree. No one was going to give Varejao the contract he desired. The Bobcats signed Varejao to an offer sheet as a favor to Dan Fegan, while at the same time making their fanbase think they were going after a solid big man. Everyone knew the Cavs would match. Varejao will be making less than if he would have accepted a longer deal and he left a crapload of money on the table. This is a risky move for Varejao, considering he had a pretty major shoulder injury last year.

12-05-2007 @ 11:42AM

IloveChelseaSoccer said...

I couldn't agree with you more, and I live in Cleveland. Livingston and Cleveland's other sportswriting apologists can dress this up any way they want - as they shamelessly pander to the know-nothing local fans - but this is a win for Varejao. If Cavs management is smart, it would let Varejao walk. But it won't, because of ego and some illogical belief that it needs to save face by making Varejao stay.

12-05-2007 @ 11:47AM

also, letting Varejao walk does nothing but guarantee a first round loss this year. The Cavs are INCREDIBLY thin in their frontcourt without Varejao. Now he is under contract for at least two years, he can used as trade bait for a big time move (Kidd please), and he gives the Cavs a legitimate chance of winning right now. All that and he is making 6 MILLION A YEAR less than he was origninally asking for! How can you say Ferry got abused when he cut Fegan's asking price in half!

12-05-2007 @ 12:01PM

JD said...

The cavs are a joke without Lebron, they better sign all the help they can, or in a couple of years they will lose Lebron and the cavs will be a real joke.

12-05-2007 @ 1:13PM

LB said...

In two years Big Z will be 34 years old and slower than he is now. Varejao might be the starting center by then and they will feel pressure to retain quality big men to keep LeBron happy.

12-05-2007 @ 4:34PM

Luc said...

the writer of this article must be insane. Varajao wanted 9 mill a year. He got like 5.5. He wanted a 1 year deal. He got a 3 year deal, which will end up being a 2 year deal if he opts out. He's going to be hitting the market with so many big free agents, he'll be absolutely lost in the mix, lucky if he gets 5/per again.

12-05-2007 @ 5:02PM

Ferry is an idiot. He messed up the Boozer deal and he has no clue that LeBron is leaving if he doesn't have a winning team around him. Somehow make a trade and get Jason Kidd or a point guard that can distribute the ball. better move fast or you will have a lsing team for a long time without leBron!!!

12-05-2007 @ 9:27PM

Vincent said...

Trent, your the idiot and moronic fool. It was Paxson who bungled the Boozer deal. Both sides win and lose - Cavs get Varejao for a price much lower than they were going to give and Varejao gets a more realistic deal and he gets to opt out after 2 years. The only thing I agree with is lets use Varejao as trade bait to get some real quality players.

12-06-2007 @ 9:10AM

Vincent, when using the word "your" I assume you mean you're. This translate for idiots and morons like you to "you are". Who looks like the idiot now? Ferry has his head up his butt, he needs to get a point guard period. How hard is that to do? Unless you are a moron like Vincent. Maybe Ferry is your dad?

12-06-2007 @ 2:01PM

frank said...

Varejao should go to the Spurs now they will have a Dinasty and well served Duncan is the best player in basketball TEAM PLAYER so is Varejao so he is perfect to back up Duncan he is not Duncan yes yet but with time and the Spurs he will do fine and get a ring too and will aloud Duncan to rest some more Shaq derailed the Spurs when he was with the lakers because Duncan did not have a back up big man but now they will play Dallas with Dirk so no problem if they aacquire Varejao ( or Noah ) and then the finals with Boston or Orlando which by the way the 2 big man Kevin and Dwight do not have a back up big man respectivily so Spurs get this guy and you will have 2 or 3 or maybe more rings !