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Great article by BW....
Posted on Sat, Dec. 31, 2005
Windhorst on the NBA`Wild Thing,' you will make it interesting
Pending return of Varejao promises to provide new set of challenges, options for Cavs' Brown
By Brian Windhorst
CLEVELAND - A most interesting dynamic will be returning to the Cavaliers soon, and the effect is unpredictable.
Anderson Varejao, out the entire season after suffering a serious shoulder injury, is tentatively scheduled to join full practice Monday. If there are no setbacks and his conditioning is deemed appropriate, he could be back on the floor in games shortly thereafter.
Varejao, as fans discovered during his rookie season last year, is an interesting piece to the Cavs' puzzle. Like his nickname, ``Wild Thing,'' suggests, he's extremely active, yet, sometimes lacks focus. His best skill is rebounding, which the Cavs need at this time. After starting off as one of the best rebounding teams in the league, they've sunk to the middle of the pack.
But Varejao isn't a great defender and isn't much of an offensive threat. His jump shot is slow and unreliable, he's a horrid free-throw shooter, and he doesn't always have great feel around the rim. He supposedly was making significant strides in that area before he was hurt while playing for Brazil's national team in August.
Coach Mike Brown favors defensive players and certainly he'll attempt to teach Varejao how to work within his philosophy. It is yet to be seen whether there's still a language barrier and if Varejao can adapt to playing the sort of help defense on which Brown focuses.
The coach also simply might discover, like Paul Silas did last year when Varejao went from nightly bench-warmer to one of the first subs, that the way his energy can change a game can be invaluable.
Brown has said he believes that the 6-foot-10 Varejao can play center and power forward in his system. That means he can be on the court with Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Donyell Marshall, Alan Henderson or Drew Gooden at the same time, if needed. Just where he fits is yet to be determined and quite intriguing.
Last season, he simply demanded time because of the way he routinely changed the flow of the game when he entered. However, the dislocated shoulder injury was serious, as was the surgery that required five separate incisions to repair it. Varejao suffered the injury when he was slammed from behind as he was trying to get a rebound.
It is yet to be seen whether the injury will affect his rebounding ability or change the way he plays, perhaps being fearful of hurting it again.
If he does return to normal, as he's vowed for months, it could change things in the rotation and perhaps, down the line, the roster. Which way it will go, for now, remains a mystery.
Dribbles
• The word going around is that Jerry Colangelo is making it known during interviews with potential Olympians that USA Basketball is going to put its foot down with entourages. In Athens, players' friends and families sometimes traveled with and stayed with team members. LeBron James' crew pales compared to some NBA stars, but his family, friends and management team are always close and often travel with him.
• Speaking of the ``Four Horsemen,'' Wednesday night's party at the House of Blues for James' birthday was set up by his management team. It was a rather shrewd set-up; hundreds of fans paid between $50-$300 to hang out and get a glimpse of or an autograph from James and then sing Happy Birthday. The proceeds paid for the whole evening, including James' private dinner with family, friends and teammates.
• Dale Davis came to Quicken Loans Arena with his Detroit Pistons teammates Saturday, but it could've been his home this season. He's an insurance policy with the Pistons, who almost never play him because they are loaded with big men. Insiders insist that Brown pushed Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry to sign Davis last summer with their last $3.6 million in cap space. But Ferry passed and used the money on Damon Jones instead. Ferry then signed Henderson to fill the need at backup center.
• The Cavs are picking up a couple of breaks this week when they face teams without key players. The Milwaukee Bucks, who host the Cavs on Wednesday, are without guard T.J. Ford, who led them to wins over the Cavs in the preseason and last month. On Thursday, the Houston Rockets visit without center Yao Ming, who is out with a toe injury.
• One player keenly interested in how fast Varejao recovers is Zendon Hamilton. The seldom-used big man has a contract that doesn't become guaranteed until Jan. 10. If he's on the roster on that date, he'll be assured of earning his entire $771,123 salary. Under owner Dan Gilbert, the Cavs don't cut any corners on costs, which suggests Hamilton could stick around no matter what.
• Varejao will become a restricted free agent after next season. He signed a three-year, $2.6 million deal before last season but had to buy out his contract with FC Barcelona, as well. It pays him $866,800 this season and $945,600 next year.
Considering his contract status and the fact that Marshall signed a four-year, $22 million deal last summer, the Cavs might find it hard to go to the wall for Gooden, who is a restricted free agent at season's end. Gooden will likely be looking for a deal worth $45-$50 million over five years, which is what draft classmates Mike Dunleavy and Tayshaun Prince got. That's why Gooden is a trade candidate either before this season's deadline or in a sign-and-trade next summer.
• In lieu of what's happening in Brownsland with General Manager Phil Savage, it should be pointed out such chaos doesn't appear to be in store with the new management in the Cavs' camp. When Danny Ferry was in talks for the Cavs' GM job, he made doubly sure that he would have complete operational and personnel control. With all the rumors swirling about Larry Brown and, even, owner Dan Gilbert's methods, Ferry delayed signing his contract until he got the language exactly the way that he wanted.
The Cavs Operating Company does have a president and CEO, but Ferry is totally in control of basketball operations. Thus far, all reports indicate the two's relationship has been professional and solid.
Posted on Sat, Dec. 31, 2005
Windhorst on the NBA`Wild Thing,' you will make it interesting
Pending return of Varejao promises to provide new set of challenges, options for Cavs' Brown
By Brian Windhorst
CLEVELAND - A most interesting dynamic will be returning to the Cavaliers soon, and the effect is unpredictable.
Anderson Varejao, out the entire season after suffering a serious shoulder injury, is tentatively scheduled to join full practice Monday. If there are no setbacks and his conditioning is deemed appropriate, he could be back on the floor in games shortly thereafter.
Varejao, as fans discovered during his rookie season last year, is an interesting piece to the Cavs' puzzle. Like his nickname, ``Wild Thing,'' suggests, he's extremely active, yet, sometimes lacks focus. His best skill is rebounding, which the Cavs need at this time. After starting off as one of the best rebounding teams in the league, they've sunk to the middle of the pack.
But Varejao isn't a great defender and isn't much of an offensive threat. His jump shot is slow and unreliable, he's a horrid free-throw shooter, and he doesn't always have great feel around the rim. He supposedly was making significant strides in that area before he was hurt while playing for Brazil's national team in August.
Coach Mike Brown favors defensive players and certainly he'll attempt to teach Varejao how to work within his philosophy. It is yet to be seen whether there's still a language barrier and if Varejao can adapt to playing the sort of help defense on which Brown focuses.
The coach also simply might discover, like Paul Silas did last year when Varejao went from nightly bench-warmer to one of the first subs, that the way his energy can change a game can be invaluable.
Brown has said he believes that the 6-foot-10 Varejao can play center and power forward in his system. That means he can be on the court with Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Donyell Marshall, Alan Henderson or Drew Gooden at the same time, if needed. Just where he fits is yet to be determined and quite intriguing.
Last season, he simply demanded time because of the way he routinely changed the flow of the game when he entered. However, the dislocated shoulder injury was serious, as was the surgery that required five separate incisions to repair it. Varejao suffered the injury when he was slammed from behind as he was trying to get a rebound.
It is yet to be seen whether the injury will affect his rebounding ability or change the way he plays, perhaps being fearful of hurting it again.
If he does return to normal, as he's vowed for months, it could change things in the rotation and perhaps, down the line, the roster. Which way it will go, for now, remains a mystery.
Dribbles
• The word going around is that Jerry Colangelo is making it known during interviews with potential Olympians that USA Basketball is going to put its foot down with entourages. In Athens, players' friends and families sometimes traveled with and stayed with team members. LeBron James' crew pales compared to some NBA stars, but his family, friends and management team are always close and often travel with him.
• Speaking of the ``Four Horsemen,'' Wednesday night's party at the House of Blues for James' birthday was set up by his management team. It was a rather shrewd set-up; hundreds of fans paid between $50-$300 to hang out and get a glimpse of or an autograph from James and then sing Happy Birthday. The proceeds paid for the whole evening, including James' private dinner with family, friends and teammates.
• Dale Davis came to Quicken Loans Arena with his Detroit Pistons teammates Saturday, but it could've been his home this season. He's an insurance policy with the Pistons, who almost never play him because they are loaded with big men. Insiders insist that Brown pushed Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry to sign Davis last summer with their last $3.6 million in cap space. But Ferry passed and used the money on Damon Jones instead. Ferry then signed Henderson to fill the need at backup center.
• The Cavs are picking up a couple of breaks this week when they face teams without key players. The Milwaukee Bucks, who host the Cavs on Wednesday, are without guard T.J. Ford, who led them to wins over the Cavs in the preseason and last month. On Thursday, the Houston Rockets visit without center Yao Ming, who is out with a toe injury.
• One player keenly interested in how fast Varejao recovers is Zendon Hamilton. The seldom-used big man has a contract that doesn't become guaranteed until Jan. 10. If he's on the roster on that date, he'll be assured of earning his entire $771,123 salary. Under owner Dan Gilbert, the Cavs don't cut any corners on costs, which suggests Hamilton could stick around no matter what.
• Varejao will become a restricted free agent after next season. He signed a three-year, $2.6 million deal before last season but had to buy out his contract with FC Barcelona, as well. It pays him $866,800 this season and $945,600 next year.
Considering his contract status and the fact that Marshall signed a four-year, $22 million deal last summer, the Cavs might find it hard to go to the wall for Gooden, who is a restricted free agent at season's end. Gooden will likely be looking for a deal worth $45-$50 million over five years, which is what draft classmates Mike Dunleavy and Tayshaun Prince got. That's why Gooden is a trade candidate either before this season's deadline or in a sign-and-trade next summer.
• In lieu of what's happening in Brownsland with General Manager Phil Savage, it should be pointed out such chaos doesn't appear to be in store with the new management in the Cavs' camp. When Danny Ferry was in talks for the Cavs' GM job, he made doubly sure that he would have complete operational and personnel control. With all the rumors swirling about Larry Brown and, even, owner Dan Gilbert's methods, Ferry delayed signing his contract until he got the language exactly the way that he wanted.
The Cavs Operating Company does have a president and CEO, but Ferry is totally in control of basketball operations. Thus far, all reports indicate the two's relationship has been professional and solid.
