Anderson Varejao Trade Ideas

[Marcus]

I don't like the idea of trading for Pek personally. It wouldn't be too bad if he had a contract that was longer than this year, but he is going to get SUPER overpaid like Asik did in free agency.

I would personally be thrilled if the Cavs could swing a trade for Pekovic. Personally, I would rather they trade for Williams/Pekovic than do a swap for Love. Not to say that Love isn't an outstanding player that I wouldn't be excited to get as well, but good centers are hard to come by nowadays. It has become a very guard-oriented league. Pekovic is putting up solid numbers with good shooting percentages. He is due a big pay day, but a solid big man is invaluable in today's league. I think his numbers are about to go up even further now that Love has re-fractured his hand, if the reports are true.

Williams would allow Gee to move back to the bench as a powerful scoring punch with the second unit. It would also save the Cavs from spending their draft pick on a 3, and they could instead spend it on a 2 or another big man (or they could trade it for another proven commodity).

I love Andy, and he will always be one of my favorite Cavaliers, but they are never going to get a better chance to sell high than right now. They need to strike while the iron is hot. That is why they should not wait for the trade deadline in another month and a half. It's time to turn all of these assets that they have into impact players and depth.

[D-Wreck]

I don't like the idea of trading for Pek personally. It wouldn't be too bad if he had a contract that was longer than this year, but he is going to get SUPER overpaid like Asik did in free agency.

I'd take Pek in a heartbeat. Big, strong, good scorer and rebounder and he just turned 27.

On a side note, did Asik really even get overpaid? 3 years $25 mill seems like a bargain for a double double guy that plays top notch defense.

Williams would allow Gee to move back to the bench as a powerful scoring punch with the second unit. It would also save the Cavs from spending their draft pick on a 3, and they could instead spend it on a 2 or another big man (or they could trade it for another proven commodity).

I think it's pretty clear at this point that Williams is not a 3. He just needs to focus on being a face up 4 and stop with the charade.

[D-Wreck]

...

[Marcus]

I'd take Pek in a heartbeat. Big, strong, good scorer and rebounder and he just turned 27.

On a side note, did Asik really even get overpaid? 3 years $25 mill seems like a bargain for a double double guy that plays top notch defense.



I think it's pretty clear at this point that Williams is not a 3. He just needs to focus on being a face up 4 and stop with the charade.

See, now I tend to disagree. I think he needs to just focus specifically on being a 3, and he can do it. That's just my opinion though.

[Jack Brickman]

I'd take Pek in a heartbeat. Big, strong, good scorer and rebounder and he just turned 27.

On a side note, did Asik really even get overpaid? 3 years $25 mill seems like a bargain for a double double guy that plays top notch defense.

I think it's pretty clear at this point that Williams is not a 3. He just needs to focus on being a face up 4 and stop with the charade.

Agree with all of that.

I do think Williams could play the three (or even a small-ball five) occasionally to exploit match-up disadvantages (not that Byron Scott ever does that), but he is a four.

I think the main benefit to acquiring Williams with Pekovic in a potential trade is that we could potentially flip Williams later for a different piece. Adding another young asset to the roster is never a bad thing. Even if he doesn't fit you can always move him for someone who does.

[D-Wreck]

See, now I tend to disagree. I think he needs to just focus specifically on being a 3, and he can do it. That's just my opinion though.

I just haven't seen the quickness or the necessary perimeter skills for him to play the 3 for an extended period of time. But that's a discussion for another day.

It looks unlikely that anything with happen with Minny anyways. Seems like a lot of talk for the sake of talk at this point.

[Mdog1]

I'd take Pek in a heartbeat. Big, strong, good scorer and rebounder and he just turned 27.

On a side note, did Asik really even get overpaid? 3 years $25 mill seems like a bargain for a double double guy that plays top notch defense.



I think it's pretty clear at this point that Williams is not a 3. He just needs to focus on being a face up 4 and stop with the charade.

He's just overpaid in the final year imo. The first two years are great at 5 per, but when you give him nearly 15 million in the third it's crazy. It's not bad for Houston because it's averaged over the course of the contract, but I can't imagine anyone saying let's pay this guy 15 million. That's LeBron money.

[wildfan]

Seriously....think about this:

PG: Irving
SG: Shabazz / McLemore, Waiters
SF: Gee
PF: Thompson, Williams
C: Pekovic, Zeller

That's already 8 pieces to a damn good rotation. Add in the Lakers pick and maybe a vet to back-up at PG and that's a playoff team next year.

Could Waiters play backup PG????

[Nathan S]

I mentioned a Denver trade earlier, and the more i think about it the more I like it, so here's the in-depth look:

Andy+Miles (plus other goodies if necessary) for Koufos+Gallo

-Cavs complete the youngest starting 5 of all time, all 24 or under, in Koufos-Thompson-Gallo-Waiters-Irving. I would argue that Koufos and Gallo are a better fit than Pek and Williams, although I know that's easy to debate.

-Andy adds experience and savvy to a Denver frontline that badly needs it on defense (Faried, Koufos, and McGee all give up 18+ PER's according to 82games)

-Lawson-Varejao pick and roll adds a new dimension to the Nuggets offense

-CJ Miles provides much needed outside shooting, as Denver's 33% from long range ranks 28th in the league

[Marcus]

He's just overpaid in the final year imo. The first two years are great at 5 per, but when you give him nearly 15 million in the third it's crazy. It's not bad for Houston because it's averaged over the course of the contract, but I can't imagine anyone saying let's pay this guy 15 million. That's LeBron money.

FWIW, they back loaded Lin's contract too... look at how well that's working out for them. Almost 8.4 mil this year for 12 ppg, 6 apg, 4 rpg on 43.5% shooting to go with 3 topg. Outstanding value...

[KB]

FWIW, they back loaded Lin's contract too... look at how well that's working out for them. Almost 8.4 mil this year for 12 ppg, 6 apg, 4 rpg on 43.5% shooting to go with 3 topg. Outstanding value...

Lin's production is that low because of how ball dominate Hardin as the primary option.

If Lin was more of a spot up shooter/pass first pg than the ball dominate p&r/drive and dish pg that he is his numbers would be better playing next to players like Hardin

[daytripper]

Derrick Williams just needs to concentrate on being an Al Harrington style stretch forward. He still has the potential to be good in the right system. I like Pek too but have concerns about his upcoming free agency. Bigs always get paid and there are a number of teams with capspace this summer. I'm going to guess since Kahn is on the hotseat to win now it would be a Williams+PG+pick type deal. The irony is if the Cavs deal Andy to Minn they might beat out the Lakers for that last playoff spot.

With that said I think they need to trade Andy now. I'll always be a Varejao fan but with his style of play you never know when the next major injury is going to strike. They lost their chance the past 2 seasons to deal him and shouldn't let it happen again. His value will only go down from here. Of course OKC would appear to be the best trade partner but from all the reports it sounds as if they're not overly interested. Are the Cavs just supposed to wait around on them or another team for a supposed super deal and watch Andy get hurt again?

[CleveRocks]

I won't deny that at all. He stroked his ego in a shameful way and then tried to make it look good by giving the proceeds to a charity. But what's done is done, and people that can't let it go are the reason people love to hate on Cleveland sports and their fans.

There is no "Butt Hurt" here..

What I don't understand is why anyone who is a Cleveland fan of any sport would give two shits whether anyone outside of Cleveland wants to hate on Cleveland fans. New yorkers and Chicagoans have been cracking on Cleveland anything since the earth cooled. They don't need any reason... I personally dont feel any different about Lebron, than I do about Dwight Howard... But the premise proposed was that Gilbert lost all his respect around the league for the letter, which is IMHO not relevant to a Cleveland fan, even if it were true.

Furthermore, I think it is stupid .... beyond stupid ..to design your team to accomodate a lebron return. Or for that matter to bank on landing any specific player in free agency. Has nothing to do with Lebron's right to work. Has everything to do with Dan Gilbert's right to choose trustworthy partners....Has everything to do with managing the long term brand value of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The best thing to come from the lebron era as far as a Cleveland sports fan is concerned, is the Cavs organization. It is not the same hapless mess of the Stepien or Gund days. Since lebron's exit, the organization has done an excellent job at building assets consistently toward a long term winning team. There are few FO's that have accumulated as many draft picks as we have, and also found value where others have not. Our contracts are team friendly, our locker room is professional, our coaches serious and competent. We are not going to draw the big free agents on the Neon of South Beach, or the night clubs and the power brokers of New York, or the movie moguls of LA. We have to do it by building a club that allows them to be the best at thier game....

[Jack Brickman]

There is no "Butt Hurt" here..

What I don't understand is why anyone who is a Cleveland fan of any sport would give two shits whether anyone outside of Cleveland wants to hate on Cleveland fans. New yorkers and Chicagoans have been cracking on Cleveland anything since the earth cooled. They don't need any reason... I personally dont feel any different about Lebron, than I do about Dwight Howard... But the premise proposed was that Gilbert lost all his respect around the league for the letter, which is IMHO not relevant to a Cleveland fan, even if it were true.

Furthermore, I think it is stupid .... beyond stupid ..to design your team to accomodate a lebron return. Or for that matter to bank on landing any specific player in free agency. Has nothing to do with Lebron's right to work. Has everything to do with Dan Gilbert's right to choose trustworthy partners....Has everything to do with managing the long term brand value of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The best thing to come from the lebron era as far as a Cleveland sports fan is concerned, is the Cavs organization. It is not the same hapless mess of the Stepien or Gund days. Since lebron's exit, the organization has done an excellent job at building assets consistently toward a long term winning team. There are few FO's that have accumulated as many draft picks as we have, and also found value where others have not. Our contracts are team friendly, our locker room is professional, our coaches serious and competent. We are not going to draw the big free agents on the Neon of South Beach, or the night clubs and the power brokers of New York, or the movie moguls of LA. We have to do it by building a club that allows them to be the best at thier game....

I agree with all of that. That said, I do think the Cavs will sign LeBron if he wants to come here. I just don't believe they will specifically structure their team to accommodate him. It's not necessary anyway. If they sign LeBron, they can always move anyone who doesn't fit.

[AMC]

Do you think Waiters could play backup PG?

Fixed. No need for the explosion of punctuation.