Cleveland Cavaliers Extend Anderson Varejao To Three-Year Deal

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Anderson Varejao have agreed to a three-year contract extension, keeping the veteran center in Cleveland through 2018.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Anderson Varejao have agreed to a contract extension that will keep the long-time Cavs center in Cleveland through 2018.

The numbers, via ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

Official numbers on Anderson Varejao 3-year extension: $9.6M next year, $10.3M ($9.3 guaranteed) in 16-17 & 10M (nonguarateed) in 17-18.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) October 31, 2014

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Nearly $10 million a year to keep Varejao in Cleveland with LeBron James. That seems like a bt much for a 32-year-old center who struggled to stay healthy. James has said in the past that Varejao is one of his all-time favorite teammates. That probably played a part in this deal.

In looking at contracts, it’s sometimes best to see how the deal will look for the team in the final years of the deal. In the years 2017 and 2018, paying Varejao $10 million could turn out to be a headache. However, the new NBA TV deal will increase the cap by then, so that money will look relatively cheaper by then.

Still, I’m not a big fan of the deal.

Varejao has played all 11 seasons with the Cavaliers. He was acquired in 2004 in a draft-night trade after the Orlando Magic selected him with the last pick in second round. The Cavs sent Tony Battie a couple of future second rounders to Orlando for Varejao, Drew Gooden and Steven Hunter.

Last season, he averaged 8.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 27.7 minutes per game.

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