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Cavs: Watch the Cavaliers tribute video to Anderson Varejao

By Chad Porto

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 12: Anderson Varejao #17 of the Cleveland Cavaliers battles Romeo Langford #45 of the Boston Celtics for the ball during the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on May 12, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 12: Anderson Varejao #17 of the Cleveland Cavaliers battles Romeo Langford #45 of the Boston Celtics for the ball during the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on May 12, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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Cavs legend Anderson Varejao got a touching video for his last home game.

Anderson Varejao was the first pick for the second round in the 2004 NBA Draft. The Orlando Magic took him at pick no. 30. A pick they had only because the Minnesota Timberwolves had to forfeit their first-round pick. Had Varejao been taken by the Timberwolves instead of the Magic, maybe he never finds his way to the Cavs.

Instead, Varajao got traded by the Magic alongside Drew Gooden and Steven Hunter to Cleveland in exchange for two second-round picks and Tony Battie.

During his time in the NBA, he went to two NBA Finals with the Cavs and another one with the Golden State Warriors. He ended up being on both the 2016 title-winning Cavs and the 2017 title-winning Warriors but was either traded or released from both teams during the season.

Because of this, the Cavs and Warriors both offered Varejao rings, which is customary for all players who were moved on from during the course of the season. Varejao would decline the Cavs offer, as he played against the Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA finals as a member of the Warriors.

He would accept the Warriors 2017 ring, however.

A quiet sendoff for a franchise legend.

It might be a bit “much” to refer to Anderson Varejao as a franchise legend, but he is. He spent parts of 13 seasons in Cleveland, which is longer than LeBron James. Yes, it’s true that Varejao didn’t achieve much individual success, just one NBA All-Defensive Second Team spot in 2010 under Mike Brown, but his time in Cleveland didn’t need to be marked by awards.

As far as the Cavaliers go, he ranks 6th all-time in franchise history in rebounds, 8th in steals, 8th in blocks, and 10th in field goal percentage. So sure, he doesn’t have the per-game stats that others may have or the individual accolades of a James-type, but Varejao is in fact a franchise legend.

So it was great to see the Cavs give him a video sendoff during the last home game of his Cavaliers career. A game they won, by the way.

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