Given Anderson Varejao‘s injury history, the Cavs signing him to a three year deal might seem risky, but Terry Pluto of The Plain Dealer explains why it was a smart move for the team. Pluto cites the team’s desire to win now, Cleveland’s lack of depth at center, and that Varejao’s $10MM per season salary won’t seem that high once the new CBA kicks in and player salaries escalate. Pluto also notes that the non-guaranteed third year of the contract was added because the organization views it as a potential trade chip.
Here’s more from around the league:
- The Lakers look to be in for a long season that is more likely to end with a lottery pick than a playoff berth. Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel believes that Los Angeles should consider trading Kobe Bryant to the Knicks for Amar’e Stoudemire‘s expiring contract. This would get Bryant’s deal off of the books in time for next summer’s free agent class, as well as reunite Bryant with Phil Jackson, and help the Knicks implement the triangle offense more effectively, Schmitz opines.
- Cavs owner Dan Gilbert’s comments about a willingness to spend whatever it took to put LeBron James back on top, no matter the cost, were a jab at the Heat organization and team owner Micky Arison, Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel writes. Moves such as amnestying Mike Miller in 2013, or the team declining to use their mid-level exception last season despite a lack of roster depth, were rumored to rub James the wrong way and possibly contributed to him returning to Cleveland, notes Winderman.
- Lorenzo Brown and Josh Bostic agreed to contracts with the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA D-League, David Mayo of MLive reports (Twitter link). Both players were waived by the Pistons who will retain their D-League rights.
I actually said the same thing about Gilbert’s comment. The thing that kind of annoys me is the way he has handled everything. Maybe its just me, but he is being extremely cocky for a person that happens to own the team that plays basketball closest to where LeBron James lives, and I have still yet to hear an explanation as to why, if he calls it a “one night mistake,” that letter was on the website until a couple of days before LeBron announced his decision to go home. Lets call it like it really is. LeBron James is enough of a man to let things go. Now Dan Gilbert is kind of rubbing it in people’s faces
No Heat bias here. Gilbert simply said he’s willing to spend money something he’s shown ever since he bought the team. It’s an important distinction to make as many owners of top contenders have used the luxury tax as an excuse to cheap out yours did, as do the pacers and okc every year. Gilbert is no luckier to get LeBron then the heat were, he only went there because they happened to Draft his good friend. It had very little to do with going home than it did going to a better basketball situation to the future. If he was born in sacrament do you think he would be going home? Do you feel the same about Riley after he made a fool of himself in his press conference calling anyone who left the team a coward?
I have a totally different opinion than you on this, I guess. I thought Pat RIley’s press conference was masterful. Again, I dont fault LeBron for wanting to live in Akron…Mickey Arison didnt cheap out. He has shown a willingness to spend money every year. However, during the 2 championship years, he lost $30 million each season. Just for Mike Miller, he wold have had to pay an extra $18 million last year. Thats a little egregious, especially for a guy that looked like he couldnt even walk, let alone play the 82 games he played last year. Have to hand it to Mike Miller for somehow recovering from those injuries. The MMA training he did really helped him with his core strength, and he was able to avoid the surgery that a couple of doctors recommended