Center Sasha Kaun has retired after playing one season with the Cavaliers, according to Gary Bedore of KUSports.com. The 31-year-old Kaun played sparingly with Cleveland, appearing in 25 games. He was traded to the Sixers earlier this month, then waived. He played seven seasons with CSKA Moscow after completing his college career at Kansas. “I was very blessed and fortunate to play as long as I have,” he told the Journal-World from Colorado.
In other news around the league:
- Warriors reserve center Anderson Varejao has returned to the U.S. from Brazil to undergo tests on his back, according to Brazil’s Olympic website. The report, which was later posted by the San Jose Mercury News, puts Varejao’s Olympic participation in doubt and clouds his availability for training camp. Varejao just re-signed with the Warriors last week after playing spot minutes the second half of last season and during the playoffs.
- Noel Gillespie has been named head coach of the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets’ new D-League affiliate, the team announced on its website. Gillespie spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach for the Nuggets. Before that, he was on the Suns’ staff for 10 seasons.
- The Mavericks probably overpaid to obtain Harrison Barnes as a restricted free agent, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Eddie Sefko. Dallas hopes that Barnes blossoms now that he’ll be a bigger part of its offense than he was with the Warriors, but he’s been a middle-of-the-road player and there’s no guarantee he’ll get much better, Sefko adds. Barnes was lured away with a four-year, $94MM offer sheet that Golden State couldn’t match.
- Yogi Ferrell’s minimum contract with the Nets has a $100K guarantee, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets. The former Indiana University point guard agreed to a one-year deal with Brooklyn last week after going undrafted.
Well, that works out for the Warriors. They can eat Varejao’s contact, and grab a rim protecting big, and the 2 guard/wing shooters they need off the bench to replace Barbosa and Rush, obviously at the minimum
Okay who is still out there willing to play for league min that are worth a having.
Brian Scalabrine, the GOAT.
I agree, Varejao is my least favorite player in the league. Not sure why they re-signed him. However, I think they plan on Mccaw taking Rush’s minutes. They do need another combo guard. I’d say Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole, Tony Douglas, Shane Larkin or Kevin Martin. At big I would go Seraphin, Henry Sims, JJ Hickson? Options are slim, at least try for more athleticism.
Congrats to Sasha Kaun. Now the NBA meme team won’t be making fun of the Cavs big men. No more: Can’t tell if Cavs center or Russian national team! Ha