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By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal columnist
Published on Monday, Oct 22, 2007
In all the talk about the Anderson Varejao contract situation, many fingers have been pointed at his agent, Dan Fegan, as a reason a deal has not been struck. But that's just not the whole story.
Let's get some of it out of the way: Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry's secret trip to Brazil two weeks ago to visit Varejao has been portrayed by some, including high-profile national columnists, as a device to get around the unrelenting Fegan. The California-based Fegan has a reputation for driving a hard bargain and for getting his clients huge long-term deals. Some believe he doesn't want to sully that by compromising from his demands to get Varejao a deal worth an average of at least $10 million annually.
As one NBA executive said recently to me: ''I am about to talk out of both sides of my mouth. On one hand, Dan can be uncompromising and he's concerned with his reputation, and sometimes that ego can negatively affect his client. But if my son was looking for his last contract, he's the guy I'd hire.''
But it's not just Fegan involved here. Varejao's brother, Sandro, an aspiring agent, was hired by Fegan a year and a half ago and has been in on the talks.
Sandro represents his brother in Brazil and aims to represent other up-and-coming South Americans.
That was why Varejao left agent Herb Rudoy, even though Rudoy had secured him an excellent fully guaranteed three-year deal when he was a second-round pick in 2004. It was a matter of blood being thicker than water; at least that's what Varejao told me in the only interview he gave about his contract last season after a shoot-around in Minneapolis in April.
During the NBA Finals, Sandro and Fegan sat together in the stands at Quicken Loans Arena. They were also together when the Cavs had a bargaining session in late September with Ferry. Sandro, who played for West Virginia University, also works out with his brother during the summers and, presumably, now in Brazil.
So it must be assumed that Varejao knows fully well all the ins and outs of the contract talks because his brother has been there every step of the way. Which is probably why Ferry's mission to Brazil did not bear fruit. It's not just Fegan who thinks a young big man who averages six points and six rebounds is worth eight figures a year; Varejao himself must believe it as well. Even if the Cavs, and most objective observers, simply do not agree.
Ultimately, because Varejao is the boss, that is why he is not in uniform right now.
Dribbles
Donyell Marshall almost didn't make it back from China with the Cavs Saturday. After the team traveled last Thursday from Shanghai to Macao, which is a so-called ''special administration region'' and requires its own customs entry, the Cavs somehow lost Marshall's passport. Whenever the team travels internationally, the travel documents are kept together. The nearest passport office to Macao is in Hong Kong, but that, too, requires a passport to enter, so there were all kinds of issues to deal with. Plus, Friday was a national holiday in Hong Kong and all offices were closed, which made everyone pressed for time late Thursday.
Marshall was detained for three hours just trying to get clearance to travel to Hong Kong, where he ended up going by helicopter for speed purposes. He was met there by an agent from the U.S. consulate, who finally got him a replacement in the evening.
On his blog, Marshall said the ordeal was a ''pretty strange and scary situation.''
The Cavs have a week to pick up the options in the contracts of Shannon Brown and Cedric Simmons for next season. It is likely they will exercise them. Brown has shown potential in the preseason and Simmons is a project who needs time. The options are worth $1.1 million to Brown and $1.7 million to Simmons.
When the Cavs open the season next week, the visiting Dallas Mavericks will not be at full strength. All-Star small forward Josh Howard was suspended for the first two games of the season for hitting Sacramento Kings center Brad Miller in the back of the head during a preseason game last week.
Devin Brown did not play for the Cavs in the final game in China because of a toe injury; he is day-to-day. Daniel Gibson sat out the first game with a hamstring injury but returned to start the second game.
Allan Houston's comeback attempt with the New York Knicks lasted less than a week, and he played just six minutes in a preseason game. Though both sides are posturing in the media, it was a failure. The Cavs attended Houston's workout in September but never got serious.
There also have been several media reports about Charles Oakley's interest in playing for his hometown Cavs. Even LeBron James was asked about it while he was in China. But there is zero chance of it happening. Oakley's last comeback attempt lasted seven games, and that was four years ago.
Orlando Magic forward Dwight Howard had great stats in the Magic's three games in China, although they were padded against the Cavs' backups and China's lesser big men. But the numbers weren't what was so impressive about his trip. The right-handed Howard showed a developing left hand on post moves, which could make him very hard to guard. Early in his career, Howard has been great with strength but not with skill. He's been a leader in rebounds and dunks in the past few years but one of the worst in turnovers and at the foul line. It appears he's developing some of that needed touch.
It was announced this week that former Cav Scott Williams will be a pre- and postgame analyst for the Milwaukee Bucks this season. Williams was let go by the Cavs after two years of doing the color on FSN-Ohio because, sources said, he was not afraid to be critical on the air. He's the second analyst to be dumped by the team for that reason recently. Three years ago analyst Matt Guokas, who is regarded as one of the best in the business, was released. Austin Carr, who split time with Williams on FSN last season, will now do the color on all broadcasts.
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
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