David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
There were portions of the Cleveland Cavaliers 2012-2013 season where the team looked like they may be turning a corner and could find a way into the playoffs. The turnaround was stopped by the season-ending injury to Anderson Varejao. Varejao would play in just 25 games before the quad injury and blood clot that resulted from it. The return of Varejao next season will only give a boost to a Cleveland team that could be getting closer to getting back to the .500 mark.
Varejao was averaging 14.1 points and 14.4 rebounds per game to begin the season and while he has only played in 81 games over the last three seasons, he is still an important player. Cleveland needs to have their center in the lineup for a much-higher number of games next season to continue the improvement of players like Kyrie Irving. Cleveland only managed 24 wins this season and a healthy Varejao may have added a few wins to that total.
It is always a wild card with Varejao and what his health is. A healthy Varejao could go right out and average the same numbers that he did this season. The Cavaliers can’t afford to have him out again for an extended period of time though. He makes a ton of money and you want a player that is making over $8 million on the court for more than 25 or 30 games.
The key to the 2013-14 season just might be how well Varejao plays in his return to the court. Cleveland may be able to win 30 or more games next season if Varejao can stay healthy.
Andy Schmidt is a columnist/writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ASchmidtSports, like his Facebook page or add him to your network on Google.
