BRA - Varejao to stay in Cleveland
CLEVELAND (NBA) - Brazil international Anderson Varejao is staying put after all. The Cleveland Cavaliers have matched the Charlotte Bobcats' offer sheet signed by the 25-year-old forward on Tuesday. The Cavs had seven days to match the Bobcats' three-year offer. Financial terms were not disclosed, but ...
CLEVELAND (NBA) - Brazil international Anderson Varejao is staying put after all.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have matched the Charlotte Bobcats' offer sheet signed by the 25-year-old forward on Tuesday.
The Cavs had seven days to match the Bobcats' three-year offer.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but according to a report on the Charlotte Observer website, the Bobcats' offer sheet was at the mid-level exception, which would amount to a first-year salary of $5.36million.
The key thing, as far as Anderson is concerned, is the length of the deal. Prior to his contract holdout - which has seen him miss the entire NBA season to date - Cleveland had offered him a one year deal but Anderson claimed that would jeopardize his opportunities to play for Brazil as he would need to focus on his NBA career to earn an extension next season.
Anderson had said he had been disappointed to miss both the Pan-American Games and FIBA Americas Championship with Brazil because he was seeking a new NBA contract this year.
The 6ft 10in Anderson averaged 6.8 points and 6.7 rebounds last season as Cleveland advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
During the 2007 playoffs, the Brazilian native played in all 20 games and averaged 6.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in 22.4 minutes.
Anderson has played in 183 career games, including 10 starts and averaged 5.6 points and 5.7 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game. He has played in 33 career playoff games, averaging 6.3 points and 5.4 points.
FIBA