FWIW.... https://bleacherreport.com/articles...are-unbelievably-still-on-nba-payrolls#slide1 6 Players Who Are Unbelievably Still on NBA Payrolls Andrew Nicholson (Portland Trail Blazers) If your first thought regarding Nicholson is wondering who he is, then you already figured out why his deal didn't make the cut. It's tough to consider a contract as being unbelievably on the books if you weren't aware of its existence in the first place. The 19th pick in 2012, Nicholson opened his career with four nondescript seasons on the Orlando Magic. Each ended with a negative box plus/minus and sub-replacement value. Yet somehow the Washington Wizards opted to sign him to a four-year, $26 million deal, which, admittedly, was pocket change by 2016 standards. Before his first season on the new deal ended, so did his tenure in the District. The Wizards sent him packing to the Brooklyn Nets at the deadline—a swap most notable for netting Brooklyn the future first that later became Jarrett Allen—and the Nets then sent him to the Portland Trail Blazers in July 2017. The Blazers waived him just ahead of the Aug. 31 cutoff, which stretched the remainder of his contract out to a whopping seven seasons. He's owed $2.8 million every year through 2023-24, which surely qualifies as an unbelievable amount. But unless you're a true hoops head, this might be the first and only time he enters your stream of consciousness.
and another: Anderson Varejao (Portland Trail Blazers) The 30th pick of the 2004 draft, Anderson Varejao endeared himself to Cleveland fans with hustle, endless energy and luscious locks. For a chunk of time, he may have been the most recognizable person in Northeast Ohio not named LeBron James. For years, Varejao emptied the fuel tank for the Cavaliers, and they routinely rewarded his service. They gave him a six-year, $50 million deal in 2009. Even though he was riddled with ailments over the life of that contract—a torn ankle tendon in 2011, a broken wrist in 2012, a life-threatening blood clot in 2013—they opened their wallets once again in 2014 and signed him to a three-year pact worth up to $30 million. The investment was steep, but it seemed sensible in light of LeBron James' return. As Jason Lloyd noted for Ohio.com in Sept. 2014, "LeBron often has referred to Varejao as one of his all-time favorite teammates and he did so again on Friday." But neither the contract nor James' return could turn Varejao's luck around. That December, he tore his Achilles. Just like that, his season was finished. He wouldn't suit up again until the following October, by which time it was clear Cleveland needed a big man with more offensive versatility. So, he was moved in a three-team trade that sent him to the Portland Trail Blazers and Channing Frye to Cleveland. The Blazers waived and stretched Varejao immediately, locking him into a $1.9 million salary that runs through the 2020-21 season. He later latched on with the Golden State Warriors and coincidentally squared off against the Cavaliers in the 2016 Finals. The Dubs brought him back for the 2016-17 season but waived him in February to sign Briante Weber to a 10-day deal.
Technically, they are not on the payroll. The money due to each of the players was paid in the season earned per their contract. The CAP HIT for the contract is distributed several years later. Portland has a cap hit for Sideshow Andy, Festus, & Nicholson - but none of them are getting a check from the Blazers this season.
We ended up trading it back to Cleveland for a first in 2017 instead of 2018 and then used that pick to take Caleb Swanigan. So technically we have Skal because of that trade.
What's up with him? Will he make any attempts to ever come back or is he done? Quite remarkable how there seemed to be nothing wrong with him in the NBA Finals (though he was bad out there from what I remember) and all of a sudden he completely disappeared ever since. Pretty good player in 2016.
Last I heard he wanted to play again after recovering from knee surgery (He underwent a new cadaver ligament surgery) and is still working towards making a return to the NBA
Is this news? If this is a "reminder thread", then remember this: Blazers have not paid the repeater tax. These contracts are some of the reasons why.
