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Especially if it means Cavs can acquire Redd
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sports columnist
Published on Wednesday, Jun 18, 2008
Anderson Varejao could be traded — though it's not a simple ''just-ship-him-elsewhere'' proposition.
Daniel Gibson should be coming back.
And the interest from the Cavaliers in adding a scorer like Michael Redd is real and genuine.
That's the way things appear at this early point of the offseason. Now that the NBA Finals are over, we do not have to see Pau Gasol's facial contortions any longer and do not have to see Sasha Vujacic, period.
Another benefit of the Finals being over is that Danny Ferry and the Cavs can start in earnest to fortify a pretty good team.
That they're already a good team is a key point.
There is no need to tear the Cavs apart, as some wailing banshees would suggest. There is only a need to add pieces and parts.
To add, though, a team has to give something up.
In the Cavs' case that might be Varejao, an energetic player who on his best days scraps for rebounds and loose balls and falls hard on his butt while windmilling his arms any time the guy he's guarding brushes him.
At his worst, though, Varejao tries driving, spinning moves to the basket, wilder than any that Julius Erving tried.
Clearly, there's reason to fear the worst from Varejao if he plays in Cleveland this season.
As the playoffs progressed, he shared time with Ben Wallace. Varejao handled it well, but he couldn't have liked seeing Wallace get minutes that had been his.
When Varejao had his holdout last fall, he made sure to put a clause in his three-year contract that he could choose to be a free agent in 2009.
If he stays with the Cavs, it seems that only a serious injury would keep him from ''opting out.'' (That's an NBA term; using it makes people believe what you're saying).
That means he'll want two things more than any other this season — minutes and plays that will increase his chance to make the big paycheck after the season.
Quite simply, his offensive skills are not strong enough to warrant that kind of approach.
However, he can be a good player, because he hustles and brings the proverbial ''energy'' off the bench (that's another NBA term — ever hear of a left fielder bringing ''energy''?).
When he accepts his ''role'' (yet one more NBA word) he can be effective, but the only thing that will allow him to accept the role the Cavs have for him is more money, which he will not get in Cleveland because he signed his contract.
And in sports these days, contracts are sacred agreements until the player decides he's underpaid.
If there's a deal out there for Varejao, the Cavs should do it yesterday.
But to complete this deal, Varejao must consent to be traded. NBA rules say a restricted free agent (like Varejao) cannot be traded without his approval for one year starting with the day he signs his offer sheet.
This could be a problem if, say, the Cavs wanted to send Varejao to Timbuktu. No NBA player will go there — no matter the money.
But since it's always about the money with pro athletes, Varejao could agree to go elsewhere. If he agrees to a trade he will want one thing: a chance to sign a big contract after next season.
Any team that acquires him probably will want one thing: an understanding of what it would
take to re-sign him.
So Varejao could be a valuable trade piece if he likes the new place and the money — remember it's always about the money, as a wise coach once told me. Either that, or if he realizes life is better with a new team because it might give him more offensive freedom than he'll get in Cleveland.
It wouldn't be surprising if some teams already have been in contact with the Varejao camp to see if he would be willing to sign a new deal if he were acquired. Don't know which teams, but the Cavs probably are being active.
Wally Szczerbiak is another trade piece. He will be so overpaid at $13 million this season that he'd make oil company executives blush.
But this is the last year he'll make that ridiculous salary, so his contract becomes attractive to a team because it will gain that much salary-cap room after the season.
I just report this stuff, folks.
The most logical person to acquire is Redd, the sharpshooter from the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks are rebuilding, want to unload his contract and have others to take his place.
Good. Bring him here.
The Bucks also are talking about trading Charlie Villanueva — a big guy who can play outside.
Bring him too.
Would the Bucks take Varejao and Szczerbiak for Redd and Villanueva?
Umm — would you?
The Cavs probably will have to be creative in adding a part or parts to make the deal work. Another player, a draft pick.
Perhaps the Cavs draft someone for the Bucks this year and send him in the deal.
It won't be Gibson — at least that's what the tea leaves say. Gibson recently opted to have ankle surgery. He's also going to be a restricted free agent.
Most free agents who want to shop themselves don't want to visit other teams wearing a boot.
Too, the Cavs knew Gibson needed the surgery if he wanted to start the season, so it seems like he had the surgery to stay in Cleveland.
Too, LeBron James loves Gibson. He trusts him. That's a good enough reason for me to keep him. Not to mention he can shoot.
James has some sort of background with Villanueva too. AAU team or all-star team or something like that. So that's good too.
Mind you the Cavs aren't talking about this stuff, publicly or privately. It's all just deduction based on observation and the proverbial ''word on the street,'' a phrase not strictly related to the NBA.
But it all makes sense.
And if the details could be worked out, it would be good if it happens.
Patrick McManamon can be reached at pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/.
Anderson Varejao could be traded — though it's not a simple ''just-ship-him-elsewhere'' proposition.
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