You think they are keeping Andy out extra long to make sure nothing else happens to his trade value? @Rhoelke
Is Andy [Varejao] really being held back in hopes to trade him? @da_real_LaCroy
I’ve received various forms of this question over the past couple of weeks, and I just don’t understand it. Teams don’t say guys are injured and hold them out for nearly a month to increase his trade value. Injuries hurt trade value not help it. He’s hurt. Again.
That said, teams around the league have Internet access. They understand the history and injury risks that come with acquiring Varejao. This latest injury certainly doesn’t help his value, but I don’t think it necessarily devastates it either.
What is the Cavs’ glaring need they need to address via trade or draft? @Will_J78
Big men in the NBA are the equivalent to starting pitchers in baseball — you can never have enough. They certainly could use an upgrade at the small forward position (Alonzo Gee’s best role on a championship-caliber team is as a reserve), but I would expect them to target another big in this draft.
Can we call Tristan Thompson a bust yet? I’ve never seen a near 7 footer get blocked as much as he has. @sgaps25
Let’s try clearing this up again: Tristan Thompson is not a bust. I firmly believe that. In fact, he’s playing some of the best basketball of his career while Varejao has been injured. He is averaging 12.3 points and 12.4 rebounds in his past seven games, precisely the numbers Scott thought he could have been averaging all season.
He’s third in rebounding among all second-year players, fifth in blocks and 11th in scoring. Here are the six players selected immediately after Thompson: Jonas Valanciunas, Jan Vesely, Bismack Biyombo, Brandon Knight, Kemba Walker and Jimmer Fredette. Who among those would be a better fit? The verdict is still out on Valanciunas, since this is his first year in the league. Thompson is averaging more points and rebounds right now, but Valanciunas certainly has the potential to outplay Thompson. We just aren’t at that point yet.
Klay Thompson was taken 11th by the Golden State Warriors and is playing very well, and Kawhi Leonard and Kenneth Faried are also playing well from that class. It was simply a bad draft. But calling Thompson a bust is inaccurate.
