The basketball fans in Cleveland who continue to promote losing have a new cause celebre.
Since Byron Scott and his team are killing them by competing and trying to win (heaven forbid!), they have to come up with other ways to try to get a higher pick in the NBA draft lottery.
Kyrie Irving is the new face of the franchise, so they advocate doing the next best thing. GM Chris Grant should deal the Cavaliers’ second best player, Anderson Varejao.
The Brazilian probably won’t make the Eastern Conference all-star squad, but he definitely merits consideration, averaging 10.8 points and 11.9 rebounds per night, shooting 49% from the field.
Indiana’s Roy Hibbert will probably get the nod as Dwight Howard’s back up on All-Star weekend, but Varejao has received support from around the league.
In the past week, the “Wild Thing” had a 20 point, 20 rebound night against Boston, and later had 17 points and 17 boards against the Mavericks.
The losing mongers will point to Varejao’s contract as being excessive and that the wine and gold would do well to unload the bloated deal.
Except that it isn’t an outlandish deal by NBA standards.
Varejao’s contract averages only $8.3 million per season, and it will have three years to run after the current campaign.
So why would Grant think of dealing his best big man?
Some will point to Varejao’s departure meaning more playing time for rookie Tristan Thompson, but really the youngster backs up Antawn Jamison, so there shouldn’t be a question of the two being able to play together.
And the big man is only 29 years old. Big men can play effectively for a longer period of time in the NBA, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he will continue to be a good player throughout the length of his deal.
Look, anybody can be traded, but Grant has to get a tremendous return for Varejao in order to consider an exchange. If he could get a younger big who is ready to contribute and an unprotected lottery pick, then go ahead and make the deal.
That’s not likely to happen because the teams looking to acquire Varejao would be looking ahead to his help in a championship stretch run. He’s the type of player who fits in well with a title contender.
Besides, do you honestly think you can get someone in the draft who will put up the same numbers as the Wild Thing?
He doesn’t need the ball, he rebounds, he defends, and he hustles. Those traits are perfect for fitting into an excellent team. That’s why he was such a great fit for Cleveland while LeBron James was here.
However, he’s showed now he can play with a group of younger guys and be a great example of how to compete, night in and night out.
You can argue that he’s the only veteran in a Cavs’ uniform that is contributing.
This isn’t to say he is perfect. He does have problems handling the bigger centers in the league, guys like Howard, and LA’s Andrew Bynum, but how many teams have true centers anymore?
He’s also not a polished offensive player. People understandably cringe when he takes an open 15 foot jump shot. It’s not likely to go in.
Still, there are plenty of teams in the NBA that would love a guy like Anderson Varejao. And since the object of the game is accumulating talent, why would Grant deal him?
If you can make a great deal, then fine. Otherwise, the best move is to make is no move at all.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 