In case it's unclear, I actually do believe the things I'm about to say here. Granted, I am forced to talk myself into basically everything the Cavs do at this point, but regardless, this is how I really feel:
Last night, while normal people slept and I was up reading Brian Windhorst's Twitter page, the Cleveland Cavaliers signed Anderson Varejao to a 6 year, $42.5 million contract (with the last year not fully guaranteed and incentives that could net him up to $50 million) and came to an agreement with former Toronto Raptors shooting guard and Euro-League MVP, Anthony Parker.
Let's start with Varejao. The vast majority of fans and media have laughed at this deal, saying that Varejao was drastically overpaid. Bill Simmons' Twitter: "Statement by the Cavs: 'Look, any time you can lock up a role player for $42.5 million+ incentives with the cap going backwards, you have to do it.'"
I love Bill Simmons. He's basically all I read on espn.com now that everything John Hollinger writes is of "Insider" status (what the hell!!?!?!). But it's so easy to hate on the Cavs...hate on Varejao, on Danny Ferry....it's easy to hate on anything. That's basically what I do most of the time...I know. Here, let me show you:
Buddies (theoretical) Twitter: "Statement from Bill Simmons: 'Anytime you can hate on a conference rival without explaining why the contract is bad or mentioning that it's basically an extension to the contract the player already had or that you have written and spoken about how the positive ways Anderson Varejao affects the game cannot be measured by the current stats basically to make yourself look smart, you have to do it.'"
See how easy that is? That was a low blow, Bill...but so was mine, so we're even.
How about this: Anytime you can lock up a versatile big man who always plays hard, rarely gets hurt, plays well off your star player, is WELL LIKED by your star player, you have to do it...no really, I think you do.
I understand that it is instinctively frustrating that a player is so effective with so little basketball skill, but Anderson does it. How many times have basketball people agreed that effort is a skill? That durability is a skill? That chemistry matters? And now we're all criticising this deal that locks up this guy who is key to the identity of a 66-win team. I also happen to believe there is something to be said for not low-balling a key role player who has been with your team from the hard days and now entering some very likely glory days. The contracts that kill you are the ones where you're paying people who aren't playing $10 million or something, not the ones where you might be paying a key piece maybe $1 million too much, especially with Dan Gilbert dishing out money the way he is. I have roughly no problem with this deal. I know the argument, "We could get better players for less!!" I ask you, "How?" We don't have cap space and, more importantly, the players people would list as "better" are not better.
Newsflash: Charlie Villanueva is not better than Anderson Varejao (read above: "effort is a skill").
Anthony Parker.
He's going to be LeBron's Pippen! It's over!!! START ENGRAVING THE NAMES IN THE TROPHY!!!
Sorry about that...calm down Buddies...
OK, so who is this guy?
First of all, the word is that he signed for 2 or 3 years for around $3 million per season. I'm not sure why or how that is the word, but let's pretend it's true.
He's 34, 6-6, and 215 pounds. He is a former Euro-league MVP. He is the brother of Candace Parker.
One thing Anthony Parker is without question is a great shooter. He shot 39% from deep last year (which is very good), but the two years previous he shot 44% from deep (which is very very very good). He has a history of clutch shots as well being the guy on the Raptors who guards Kobe (in case you're wondering, Kobe's 81 points came against the Raptors the season BEFORE Parker came to the Raps). I don't think he is a lock-down defender, but he seems like a smart enough player.
So what do we have now? We have LeBron James, Shaq, and Varejao. We have a bunch (four) super good, super clutch shooters from three and mid-range. We have Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Anthony Parker, Boobie Gibson, the young guys (JJ, Darnell, and Danny Green), and hopefully one more stretch Power Forward coming off the bench (possibly starting...Andy and Z play well together...wouldn't Channing Frye play well off of Shaq? I think he might).
The Cavs have, without a doubt, drastically improved from last season. Last 66-win season. We can all cry about how nobody wants to play in Cleveland, but clearly some do. And I think the people who are (mis)fortunate enough to play in Cleveland share a bond because they are all outcasts. I like this team, I think we're the best team, and I think we're going to sign one more player. How's that for optimism?
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