Cleveland Cavaliers Not Interested In Anderson Varejao, Feeling May Be Mutual

The Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t interested in signing former fan favorite Anderson Varejao.

The Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t signing Anderson Varejao unless a series of unfortunate events forces the defending champions to explore that option.

Anderson Varejao isn't eligible to rejoin the Cavs until later this month. Even still, sources say Cleveland is unlikely to sign him.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 6, 2017

Varejao, who signed with the Golden State Warriors after the Cavs traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers last year as part of a three-team deal to get Channing Frye from the Orlando Magic, was waived by the Warriors after resigning with the team in the offseason. The longtime Cav, who was once a fan favorite known affectionately as “Andy” or “Sideshow Bob” for his circus-like finishes around the rim, played with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first 12 seasons of his career and was around for the entirety of LeBron James’ first stint with Cleveland.

After thriving in a role as an energy player off the bench who had tremendous chemistry with James on rolls to the basket, Varejao began to develop as both a defender and a jump shooter. In fact, Varejao averaged a career-high 1.2 blocks, 1.5 steals, 3.4 assists, 14.1 points and 14.4 rebounds per game in the time that James was dominating the league with his buddies in South Beach.

Unfortunately, Varejao only played in 81 total games in the first three seasons after James’ departure. The Cavs never had more than 24 wins or had better than a 5th place finish in the division in that time. They could have used Varejao’s production in that time and while the first season after James’ departure was also going to be a struggle he would have been particularly useful in Kyrie Irving’s first two seasons in the league.

Just imagine, with a better record the Cleveland Cavaliers may have drafted someone other than Dion Waiters in 2012 and Anthony Bennett in 2013. Perhaps Harrison Barnes would have been drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2012 and C.J. McCollum would have been drafted by the Cavs the following year. James may have come without a demand for Kevin Love and the Cavs would have had one of the best rosters for years to come.

Hindsight is always 20/20 but that’s a beautiful picture, looking back on how those drafts could have gone.

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I digress. Because in the last two seasons, Varejao’s age seems to have caught up with him as he looks unable to match the speed of his opponents defensively despite his defensive intensity. Offensively, Varejao hasn’t been as effective as a jump shooter as he was in years past and because of his lack of speed, he’s not converting around the rim as well either. In previous years, Varejao’s body control was aided by his agility as he got off shots around the rim. Without that agility, Varejao has been converting his shots inside at a rate of 51.1 percent or less despite a career average of 63.3 percent.

Defensively, Varejao isn’t necessarily failing to protect the rim as a shot-blocker, averaging 1.2 blocks per 36 minutes. He is, however, allowing opponents to shoot 5.3 percent better than their season average less than six feet away the rim.

With that said, Varejao may be a valuable body in the frontcourt because of his experience with the Cavs, his defensive activity and his size at 6-foot-11 and 273 pounds. However, he doesn’t help the Cleveland Cavaliers defensively at all. That’s why the Cavs wouldn’t be interested in Varejao.

To that point, Varejao may not be interested in signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers despite his friendship with James. When it was time for Varejao to be resigned in 2007, the Cavs offered him the one-year $1.2 million qualifying offer while he wanted a five-year deal worth $60 million. Varejao eventually signed a six-year deal for $42.5 million but the slight may not have been forgotten. It may have been added to the many trade rumors circulating his name. So, when he finally was traded and released, Varejao may have signed with the Warriors because he wanted to win a championship. He may also have wanted to play for a team and organization that would show they wanted him.

Why would he sign with the Cavs now, unless they showed a real desire to sign him and keep him? It would be nice for Andy to retire as a Cav and get the ring that he deserves for his service to the franchise but would he even come back?

It’s more than likely that the Cavs will never know and that Varejao will have to return after his playing career is over to retire as a Cleveland Cavalier, much like Zydraunus Ilgauskus, who played his last season with the Miami Heat.

Would you want the Cleveland Cavaliers to sign Anderson Varejao? Let us know in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.