The Portland Trail Blazers may be considering a trade for Cleveland Cavaliers Center Anderson Varejao, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.
Cavs also considering a trade that would include a LeBron favorite, Anderson Varejao. Portland & Philadelphia are possibilities.
— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) February 17, 2016
Varejao has not played a major role for the Cavs this season; he averages 2.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per game in 31 appearances.
Varejao is set to make nearly $20 million over the next two season, but only $9.6 million next season is guaranteed. The Cavs are deep into the luxury tax, so Varejao will likely be packaged with draft picks or cash in a salary dump. Portland and Philadlephia are the only teams capable of taking on such a large contract without sending back significant money.
If the Blazers do trade for Varejao they can minimize his impact on their cap space by employing the "stretch provision" to cut him after July 1. This clause of the CBA allows teams to spread the cap hit of released players across several seasons. The Blazers would be on the hook for only $3.2 million annually for the next three years if they do cut and stretch Varejao's contract.
The Cavs have no draft picks prior to 2020 available for trade, however, so it remains to be seen what the Blazers could gain from such a deal.
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