<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> So Anderson Varejao gets his $17 million and a chance to prove he's worth more in two seasons, and the Cleveland Cavaliers get back their floppy-haired, frenetic forward at a below-market cost.</p> And, for that, even the Cavaliers' rivals should be thankful.</p> By staring down Varejao's stubborn agent, Dan Fegan, Cavs GM Danny Ferry struck a blow for front office officials everywhere. Ferry didn't just beat one of the league's toughest negotiators-- "Danny Ferry cleaned (Fegan's) clock," said one giddy rival agent -- he prevented Fegan from setting a precedent for other prospective holdout candidates.</p> Had Ferry caved to Fegan's contract demands, which, at one time, were said to average $10 million a season, future restricted free agents would have had considerably greater incentive to stage their own sit-and-wait campaigns.</p> "To an agent, this could have become the NFL," said a general manager of another NBA team, alluding to the NFL's propensity for enduring training-camp holdouts. "We could have lost all decorum to team building."</p> Cleveland officials were "pleasantly surprised" when they were notified Varejao had signed the Charlotte Bobcats' three-year offer sheet worth slightly more than $17 million. The Bobcats' offer contains an opt-out clause allowing Varejao to become a free agent after two seasons, one season earlier than the Cavs would have liked, but also one season later than Fegan initially sought in his negotiations with the team. More importantly, the offer is for less money annually than what the Cavs had offered. Charlotte didn't bother to structure the contract to include a large lump payment, further evidence even the Bobcats knew the Cavs planned to keep Varejao.</p> The Cavaliers intend to match the offer sheet not long after it hits their desk. They want Varejao in uniform as quickly as possible. He isn't going to fix all of their problems, but he'll certainly help.</p> The Cavs also aren't worried about the comments Varejao made last week when he claimed he no longer wanted to play for Cleveland, dismissing them as the type of rhetoric that sometimes surfaces during difficult negotiations. Even if Varejao is disgruntled, he still needs to play hard -- and continue to be a good teammate -- if he wants to eventually land the type of payday he feels he deserves.</p> For now, Varejao will take his $17 million and the Cavaliers will celebrate. So should nearly every other team.</div></p> Source: Yahoo Sports</p>
I wonder what the mood will be within the locker room after this fiasco. Especially since they're now below .500 and their leader is injured.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Dan Fegan gets pwned.</p> </div></p> Not really. Varejao can opt out in 2 years, which he will because he'll try to get more than the $6 million he is owed, and Cleveland will be in the same situation they were just in... except worse, because Varejao will be an unrestricted free agent then.</p> Cleveland is in a weird position with this, even though they got their guy. I'm sure all his "I'm done with Cleveland" comments were nothing more than a negotiation tactic, but then again he really may not want to be there. If that's the case and he really is unhappy, Cleveland is in a tough situation. They can't trade him before the trade deadline, because you have to wait 90 days before he can be moved. Then next year, nobody will trade for him because he'll be an unrestricted free agent who nobody will want to take a risk on to trade for, because he'll test the waters regardless. So, if Varejao really is unhappy, they have a guy there for 2 years who doesn't want to be a Cavalier. Then, he's testing the market.</p> And even if it all works out to the point where Varejao is happy and ends up staying in Cleveland long-term, to all those who say Ferry did a great job here... he deserves zero credit. He did nothing here. He was bailed out for not being able to reach an agreement, and ended up matching an offer sheet for MLE money. Why he is getting any credit whatsoever is beyond me. This was an early Christmas present for him.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Dan Fegan gets pwned.</p> </div></p> Why?</p> He generated an offer by making Charlotte think there was a slight chance Cleveland wouldn't match. (Which I can't believe they fell for.)</p> If he didn't like Charlotte's offer, he wouldn't have had Varejao sign it.</p> </p>
In my opinon they should of let him go to Charlotte, as others have said this puts Cleveland in a precarious situation 2 years from now when he's an unrestricted free agent. I still do not understand Clevelands obsession with this guy, he's not a good player at all. If he doesn't develop much more than he already has, they still have to pay the 6 million which I think is entirely too much, and if he does become a quality player they will have to pay market value. They should of let him go to the Bobcats or negotiated a S&T for a pick.</p>
Cleveland was offering a similar deal all along (money-wise) and none of Fegan's original demands really got met. Sure, he gets to opt out after 2 years, but he was seeking a one-year opt-out the entire time. I don't see what his 2-month long holdout accomplished other than getting him a deal that was already on the table (minus a small compromise on contract length).</p>
Maybe he'll spark something in the team and help get them through this time without Lebron. If so, it's money well spent.</p>
