Three teams are within two games of the lead in the Central Division, and it's liable to tighten up even more as the first-place Bulls host a Clippers team on a six-game winning streak tonight. The other Central Division team in action this evening is also welcoming an L.A. team into town, as the Cavs take on the Lakers. For all the rumors swirling around their opponents tonight, there's plenty of speculation concerning what Cleveland will do with Anderson Varejao. We have more on that tonight, along with other news from the Central.
- Multiple league sources tell HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy that they believe the Cavs will trade Varejao before this season's trade deadline, and one source indicates the team is looking for another young player to add to its youthful core. Kennedy also hears that Varejao would be open to a trade that would send him to a winning team.
- While Kennedy says the "general consensus" around the league is that it would make sense for the Cavs to swap Varejao for assets who can help the team in the long run, USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt argues that the Cavs should feel no urgency to trade him since they already possess a wealth of young talent and draft picks. Earlier this month, more than two-thirds of Hoops Rumors readers said they think Cleveland would be better off dealing Varejao away.
- While it's unclear if Indiana has any serious interest, Sportando contributor David Pick notes Pacers director of scouting Ryan Carr was recently in Italy watching Bobby Brown, a two-year NBA veteran, play for Montepaschi Siena (Twitter link). Brown, a 6'2" guard, averaged 5.1 points and 1.8 assists in 113 career games for four NBA teams, having last played in the Association with the Clippers in 2009/10.