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Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Anderson Varejao has agreed to a multi-year contract with the team, Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry announced today. Per team and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Several media outlets had reported that the deal was going to be for six years and possibly up to or around $50 million total.
Varejao posted career bests in scoring (8.6), field goal percentage (.536), double-doubles (9), minutes per game (28.5) and starts (42) in 81 games played during the 2008-09 season. The 6-foot-11, 260-pounder also averaged 7.2 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. In his 42 starts, he increased his averages to 9.9 points on .542 shooting and 7.7 rebounds in 32.3 minutes per game.
“We are very happy to announce that we have agreed to a multi-year contract with Anderson. From the start of free agency, Anderson made it clear he wanted to be a part of our future and that he loved being in Cleveland,” Ferry said. “For us, we have been one of the better teams in the NBA the past four years. Andy has played an important role with our team during that time and continuity is important to us. He brings many valued contributions to our team on and off the court and plays with relentless passion and energy every play. He is an elite defender and we want to continue building our strong defensive identity.”
During the regular season, he finished second in the NBA in offensive fouls drawn (52). He was also selected as a member of USA Today’s 2009 All-Rambis Team. Against Chicago on Jan. 2nd, he posted career highs in scoring (26), field goals made (9) and attempted (14) and free throws made (8) and attempted (13). He tied his career best in rebounding with 14 at Toronto on Feb. 18th and went a perfect 8-8 from the field on his way to an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double at Sacramento on March 13th. He scored in double figures on 30 occasions (the Cavs were 25-5 in those games) and topped the 10-rebound mark 15 times on the season.
