The Cleveland Cavaliers have locked up their best interior defender for at least the next two seasons. Anderson Varejao has agreed to a contract extensions that gives the veteran center two years and $20 million guaranteed, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. The deal also includes a team option for a $10 million third season.
Cavaliers, Anderson Varejao agree to extension with $20 million guaranteed
Varejao will be sticking around Cleveland for at least the next two seasons after this one.
Jason Miller
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
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 The 32-year-old Varejao staredt the 11th season of his career on Thursday night when Cleveland lost to the New York Knicks. Varejao has never played for another franchise. Last season, Varejao averaged 8.4 points and 9.7 rebounds in 65 games. He shot 49.5 percent from the field.
Varejao does not have an encouraging injury history for an aging big man. He was limited to 25 games in 2012-13 with a knee injury and then a season-ending blood cot. Varejao also only played 25 games in 2011-12 when his season ended in January because of a torn tendon in his ankle.
Even as the Cavaliers welcome offseason additions LeBron James and Kevin Love, Varejao remains a vital piece. Varejao will be counted on to provide interior defense for a team that doesn't have many other plus defenders in the front court.
Cleveland travels to Chicago to face the Bulls on Friday.
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