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June 24, 2008
Should Bobcats trade for Varejao?
The Charlotte Bobcats tried acquiring Anderson Varejao (right) as a restricted free agent last season. I wonder if they should revisit acquiring Varejao, via trade.
The Bobcats signed Varejao to an offer sheet and, predictably, the Cleveland Cavaliers exercised their right to match that offer. Varejao will make about $5.8 million next season, then can opt out of that contract, becoming an unrestricted free agent.
The Cavaliers have to determine whether it's worth re-signing Varejao in the summer of 2009 at what figures to be a significantly higher price. A columnist from the Akron Beacon-Journal suggested Tuesday that it's time to look to trade Varejao.
That's where this could get interesting for the Bobcats.
Varejao's motor and versatility as a big man would be a good complement to Emeka Okafor, who needs to stay close to the basket offensively and defensively to be effective.
With the Cavs owing huge financial obligations to big men Ben Wallace and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, it's hard to picture Cleveland re-upping Varejao for big money. However, they wouldn't just give away Varejao in a trade. Also, Varejao's financial expectations would then become the Bobcats' problem.
But this sounds like an idea worth exploring.
Posted by Observer Sports on June 24, 2008 at 09:43 AM | Permalink
Comments
there is info over at foxsports.com that says varejao cannot be traded to the bobcats because of the offer sheet he signed with charlotte.
Posted by: brendan | Jun 24, 2008 9:48:28 AM
From the article at foxsports.com:
It's amazing how quickly the perception of players can change. This time last year, the Cavs were convinced that Anderson Varejao was a core player. Now, he's being shopped around the league and will likely be traded. Remember, though, he has veto power on being traded anywhere until Dec. 5. And, because he signed an offer sheet with Charlotte, he can't be traded to the Bobcats. Varejao is one of the Cavs' few legitimate trade assets. -- Morning Journal
Posted by: brendan | Jun 24, 2008 9:51:43 AM
nice job Bonnell
Posted by: KH | Jun 24, 2008 10:36:07 AM
Wow does anyone in our front office know anything about the NBA? Why did we do Cleveland the favor of signing him knowing they would match the offer?
Posted by: apauldds | Jun 24, 2008 10:39:14 AM
It would be fun having Sideshow Bob though.
Posted by: apauldds | Jun 24, 2008 10:40:23 AM
As someone who lives in Charlotte, but is a Cavs fan, I'm torn. I think Varejao's game is garbage -- particularly for what he's being paid and with the new anti-flopping initiative coming into the league.
On one hand, I'd love to see the Cavs rid of him, but not if I have to see him play down the street every night. He's just so limited offensively.
Posted by: Chris | Jun 24, 2008 10:59:52 AM
He can't be traded to the Bobcats until after the 5th of December.
Posted by: lah | Jun 24, 2008 11:00:28 AM
He can't be traded to Bobcats till December, after that he can be traded to us if he hasn't been traded already.
Posted by: Tim | Jun 24, 2008 11:22:28 AM
I guess it's a moot point but Varejao would only be worth picking up if it allows us to dump Nazr. His versatility next to Okafor would be an improvement.
Posted by: Jared | Jun 24, 2008 11:32:40 AM
If you guys remember, when we offered Varejao the 3 year deal there was an article about it in the Observer. Pretty much his agent is also the agent for a few bobcats players (I think maybe J Rich and Carrol or something) if I remember correctly and it was seen as a good gesture by the organization. If Cleveland didn't match then we would have loved for Varejao to join our roster. But everyone knew Cleveland would and by the Bobcats offering the 3 year tendor, it made Varejao unrestricted after this next season instead of restricted. I also thought it made him essentially untradeable for the next couple of seasons but I guess I am wrong about that.
Posted by: Mason | Jun 24, 2008 11:54:59 AM
I don't want him. I'd be expensive and I doubt he adds that much more than dudley. He may even be worth less than dudley in my book. We need an offensive PF, not this chaz
Posted by: bonnell = procton | Jun 24, 2008 11:59:55 AM
I think he can be traded before December 5 as long as agrees to it.
Posted by: Keith | Jun 24, 2008 12:58:43 PM
Varejao is trash! Thank god we can't sign him.
Posted by: BustaCat | Jun 24, 2008 1:31:10 PM
Should the Bobcats trade for Varejao? No way! What a bum. Versatility??? That word and Varejao should not be in the same sentence. The only versatile thing about Varejao's offensive game is the different places he throws the ball against the backboard during a game. His offensive game is garbage.
Posted by: JB | Jun 24, 2008 1:48:14 PM
I understand the guy's game ain't very polished, but his 48% career shooting considering he's not a back-to-the-basket player would suggest he's not that bad and knows how to put the ball in the rim. He's also got the tenacity and athleticism to match up defensively with the rangy PFs Okafor can't.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jun 24, 2008 2:20:23 PM
Dude, why are we even talking about Varejao? He's a nobody in the spectrum of the league and I hope the Bobcats aren't stupid in wasting another 5 mil on another bench player.
Posted by: Nick | Jun 24, 2008 2:33:00 PM
NO!!! DO NOT SIGN ANYMORE MEDIOCRE BENCH PLAYERS TO LONG TERM DEALS (2+ years). Why would you even suggest this? Are there rumors floating that the Bobcats want Varejao? God I hope not. Larry Brown, please talk some sense into MJ. The next 3-4 off seasons are going to be some of the biggest free agent markets in the history of the League. We're going to need as much cap space as possible by then. Don't blow the wad on scrubs like Varejao or Nazr Mohammed.
Posted by: PMK | Jun 24, 2008 2:47:26 PM
Bonnell, you said, "Varejao's motor and versatility as a big man would be a good complement to Emeka Okafor, who needs to stay close to the basket offensively and defensively to be effective."
Let's think about some other big men that "need to stay close to the basket offensively and defensively to be effective. Ben Wallace back in his Piston days and the current version of Tyson Chandler. Both players play(ed) with other front court players who could defend the perimeter and stretch the defense with decent outside shooting touch (see: Rasheed Wallace and David West). If the Bobcats are looking to acquire a front court mate for Okafor, they need to look at Sheed or Elton Brand. I think of David West as a younger, healthier version of Elton Brand. I'm still shocked that you would suggest bringing in ANOTHER subpar front court player.
Posted by: PMK | Jun 24, 2008 2:55:32 PM
Procton, a 48% career FG% mixed with no back to the basket game would suggest that Varejao only scores on dunks and putbacks. Varejao has tenacity? He's a well known flopper. Nothing tenacious about a flopper. C'mon man, you're better than that. Don't join in on Bonnell's ridiculous ideas.
Posted by: PMK | Jun 24, 2008 3:00:41 PM
PMK couldn't be anymore correct. Bobcats go out and get a Veteran Coach in Larry Brown and then you start talking about acquiring a player who is not even worthy of Starting. And Emeka is an Averag Player to...That's the problem with the Cats...They keep getting or going after these SOFT TYPE players. Don't seem like there trying to win to me...HAS ANYBODY LEARNED FROM WHAT BOSTON DID THIS SEASON?
Posted by: TC | Jun 24, 2008 3:17:22 PM
I can't get the image out of my head of Lebron driving the lane in the late seconds of a couple NBA finals games, and passing to Vareajao only to see him fumble the pass away.
AV is GARBAGE.
Posted by: Kevin | Jun 24, 2008 3:34:24 PM
Well, not that I usually agree w/ Procton, and am only halfway agreeing w/ him here, but Varejao is a pretty decent defensive player and can match up w/ about any PF in the East. However, he only scores on dunks from amazing feeds from a triple teamed Lebron. He should be shooting 60% from the field w/ all of the easy dunks and put-backs he gets. Combining him and Okafor would be the worst scoring front-line in the NBA.
TC, can't call him soft. He matched up very well w/ KG and Boston and the Cavs gave Boston fits. Yes he does flop, but he also grabs a ton of rebounds and loose balls and will dive all over the court. Where as Pau Gasol and Lamar were soft and back down against Boston, Varejao and the other Cavs bigs "manned" up. If it wasn't for an unbelievable last 6 mins of game 5 from PJ Brown, when he hit like 4 or 5 shots and grabbed every loose ball, the Cavs would have won that series.
Posted by: Mason | Jun 24, 2008 3:45:52 PM
The Bobcats need a new look...its time for an overhaul. LB got the Pistons to where they are now. Rod Higgins built the Warriors from a sub par team into contenders. Parts of the front office have the skills...its time to start firing some trades. Personally there isnt one guy on this team that I would care if we traded. Just get us a relevant team...and win some games.
Posted by: eleaf14 | Jun 24, 2008 3:52:12 PM
No, PMK, it suggests that he's got a decent jump shot and a good ability to take the ball to the basket, particularly for his size.
And TC, you called it. Okafor is the most average among the 10 players in the ENTIRE NBA who have a double-double for his career.
Rod Higgins also blew our very patiently earned salary cap space on Nazr "20 MPG" Mohammed.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jun 24, 2008 4:36:48 PM
i'm a cavs fan and as far as im concerned u can have him. Andy V and Sasha 4 Gerald.
Posted by: Austin | Jun 24, 2008 5:50:09 PM
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