Pre-Game Intel – Browns vs. Saints
October 22, 2010Game Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Flames (Game#6)
October 22, 2010
There have been various rumors regarding the Cavaliers potentially becoming the third team in a trade that would facilitate Denver’s Carmelo Anthony to another destination – most notably of being New York, a city in which Anthony has expressed desire to play. In said rumors, the Cavaliers would be parting with Anderson Varejao, the Bralizian forward/center who just also happens to be a fan favorite.
The issue at hand is that, as things presently stand, Varejao is also a team favorite and not just that of the Cavaliers. In fact, despite his on-paper numbers and media-based reputation as a “flopper,” Varejao continues to be the most desired member of the Cavaliers and the team realizes that his importance stretches well beyond a potential average of 15 points and 10 rebounds per night. Alas, given that the Nuggets are exploring all of their options at this point as they are almost certain to lose their franchise player come summer, they have reportedly inquired about Varejao’s availability.
Though the Cavaliers are understandably looking to rebuild their roster, some speculate that the 28-year old big man is not necessarily a part of the team’s future and feel that they may be able to pry him from the Cleveland’s hands. Not the case, however, as the Cavaliers have told all inquiring minds that they will not even entertain talks that do not require a superstar heading to Cleveland in return. Given the deal in question, the only “superstar” is Anthony and he has already made it evident that he would not be signing an extension with the Cavaliers.
Furthermore, the Cavaliers were unable to add any additional centers to the roster, leaving the team with only Varejao and Ryan Hollins (with the possibility of the frustrating J.J. Hickson) manning the post. A trade of Varejao without a post presence in return could be a recipe for disaster against the bigger teams in the league.
With regard to the Knicks, the player who continues to be discussed as an integral piece in a trade is the 21-year old athletic power forward/center Anthony Randolph. Understandably an attractive piece for Denver to get back in return, the promising big man cannot be dealt until December 15th, delaying any possible move until the week before Christmas. Other possible players continue to be forwards Danilo Galinari and Wilson Chandler, both of who would not be enough to garner New York a player of Carmelo Anthony’s caliber.
For now, Anderson Varejao is staying put in Cleveland and Denver will continue to hammer the phones in search of draft picks, salary cap relief and a handful of young prospects.
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(Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
22 Comments
Well, good.
Well, even in full rebuild mode we’ll need to find a few quality bigs somewhere, so not sure how trading Andy helps that unless you get Randolph because you’re sure he one of those.
Smart move on the Cavaliers’ part. No reason to trade Andy now while there’s no pressure. Let the season play out, see which teams have injury problems, and find out who’s desperate for a player of Andy’s caliber come midseason/trade deadline. Then, you see what teams are offering and you decide if your return is more valuable than keeping Andy for the rebuild. The Cavs are in a no-lose scenario with Andy right now, and they know it.
Fans of other teams don’t realize how valuable Andy is. I thought this offseason maybe we should trade him if they were going to just purge salary with Mo and Tawn. But, I think he’s very valuable and athletic, good rebounding, excellent defensively orientated bigs don’t come along very often. We need to keep him. Not to mention he’s a great guy. Even if he is good friends with LBJ.
Since he was traded and not signed as a free agent, Anthony Randolph is eligible to be traded to anyone right now, so long as that team isn’t Golden State. Raymond Felton cannot be traded until Dec. 15 because he was a free agent, but guys acquired via trade are eligible to be traded to anyone not the team they came from at anytime.
The only thing to be worried about is if Andy gets hurt or if his style of offensive play really relied so heavily on James that he is exposed.
@6 – that is a valid point on his offense. the counter I would interject is that Byron Scott’s system will reward Andy who can beat the opposing teams center down the court most of the time.
calibur?
nice spell check!
Next, New Orleans is going to call hoping that Cleveland can help negotiate their superstar hostage situation.
Seriously tho, I would be crushed to lose Andy, but would also understand if he’s not considered part of our rebuilding plans. But that requires going into full rebuilding mode, a path the FO hasn’t decided to venture down yet. Once we decide which side of the fork in the road to follow, hopefully plans and moves will become clearer.
I say we trade him to either Boston, OKC, Orlando or the Lakers- hear me out.
By the time we are any good, Andy will have retired. We might as well help him block “he whose name we dare not mention” from getting any rings.
TSR3000 – trust me, Orlando is by no means out of the equation with any trades the Cavs make this season. They’ve already dealt with Boston. San Antonio continues to stick around as well.
I’d say trade him to ORL or Bos so we can keep their cap locked up for even longer and shed contracts, if possible. MIA, ORL, Bos, LA, and soon to be NY are all going to be maxed out for a LONG time.
Andy is by many measurements the best player currently on the Cavs roster. He’s also consistently undervalued because he doesn’t make most of his impact via scoring. That means the Cavs should be really reluctant to trade him.
Anthony Randolph can be traded now. He could have been traded immediately after going to the Knicks if he was by himself. Otherwise, in order for him to traded again with other players 60 days would have to pass and those 60 days since joining the Knicks are up.
15 and 10? I like Andy but he will never average those type of numbers. He was one of the biggest benefactors of No. 6 who created space for Andy to score in. With him gone, Andy is going to have to create his own offense, which I do not think he’s capable of.
I have to agree with Jim, I don’t see Varejao averaging 15 in any offense.
Rick and Jim be careful you sound realistic which means pretty soon people will accuse you of not being fans or worse! I really don’t know what sports people have been watching around here maybe they are just so used to everything being so painfully hard that they don’t know what it’s like to watch real teams play. I watch plenty of other teams in multiple sports and I can’t help but be in awe of how they make it look.
On other teams Varejao is a sixth man you know kind of what he was for the Cavaliers at one time. All of a sudden now he’s the Cavaliers best option who will average 15 ppg? If this is true I better rethink my prediction of 30-35 wins.
[…] the latter which offers a ton of youth and upside. As reported earlier this season, the Cavaliers would like to be a third team in a possible deal that would facilitate Denver’s Carmelo Anthony to a team of his liking […]
i really like to see anderson varejao as celtics main rebounder starter, damn this guy is something, put garnett on 4 and varejao on 5, 18+ or 20+ rebounds a game? that’s sick man!
boston really needs a rebounder guy, which i think gortat can do but not really jumping out of my sit
celtics are just around waiting, because bradley gortat not happening
well, considering it’s been 2 years since this thread was active, Boston can wait around some more 🙂