Rastapopoulos
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We seem to be focusing on upgrading our defense. Armon Johnson and Wes Matthews will help in the backcourt and on the wing. But I want a backup big now, and I think Anderson Varejao is not only gettable, but would be huge for us. He's gettable because Byron Scott has already anointed JJ Hickson the starter, and they also have Antawn Jamison, and Scott has also said they'll run a lot more, and Varejao strikes me as a halfcourt player. Finally, he has a long, fairly hefty (although not in this year's numbers) contract.
He's desirable because he is a GREAT defender, and, I think, actually had comparable +/- numbers to James in recent years. A trade of Joel + Bayless or Rudy for Varejao works, and they could waive Joel if they wanted and he could stay in Portland and rehab, waiting to be re-signed later in the season if necessary. They'd get a young and exciting player, better suited to an open court style, and also out from under Varejao's contract. A frontcourt rotation of Oden, LA, Camby and Varejao might be fairly offensively challenged, but it would be the best frontcourt defense by a long way, and I think would be a great counter to the Lakers' bigs.
(We could throw in Pendergraph or the rights to Freeland if the Cavs want a big in return...)
He's desirable because he is a GREAT defender, and, I think, actually had comparable +/- numbers to James in recent years. A trade of Joel + Bayless or Rudy for Varejao works, and they could waive Joel if they wanted and he could stay in Portland and rehab, waiting to be re-signed later in the season if necessary. They'd get a young and exciting player, better suited to an open court style, and also out from under Varejao's contract. A frontcourt rotation of Oden, LA, Camby and Varejao might be fairly offensively challenged, but it would be the best frontcourt defense by a long way, and I think would be a great counter to the Lakers' bigs.
(We could throw in Pendergraph or the rights to Freeland if the Cavs want a big in return...)