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Another blowout for the Cavaliers.  The Cavaliers have lost 5 games in a row, losing to the Wizards 105-86. 

How is it that Z continues to get lack of touches, while Sasha and Shannon continue to hoist up bombs.  For those that say the Cavaliers won in spite of Mike Brown last year have to be wondering if this stretch of games will bring more believers.

“I thought we came out and we competed and we really fought and clawed for whatever we earned in the second half,” Brown said.  “That’s something we have to try and build on for our next game.”   Are you kidding me?  Fought and clawed?  What game was he watching vs. coaching.  At least we can take some comfort in the hopeful return of LeBron, Larry and Andy. 

For complete box scores click HERE.

The Cavaliers have matched the Charlotte Bobcats’ contract offer sheet signed by Anderson Varejao, General Manager Danny Ferry announced this morning. ‘

The Cleveland Cavaliers have also waived guard/forward Demetris Nichols. He played in three games for Cleveland and scored two points and grabbed one rebound in 14 minutes.

Verejao might join the team in by end of week.

“It’s good. I’m happy. I’m going to be back playing basketball,” Varejao said after signing the offer.

“I am grateful to the Bobcats for signing me to the deal I wanted,” he said, “but the rules … I was restricted. … But I’m happy to be in Cleveland.”

“I love the fans in Cleveland,” he said Wednesday. “I just was sad and upset with everything. It was negotiations. I’m looking forward to being back there and playing like always.”

Varejao said he had not yet heard from LeBron James since getting his new deal, “I spoke with him a couple times during the process,” Varejao said. “He totally understands. He’s always supported me and I appreciated that. I want to thank him for that.

Varejao said he had already heard from Cavs teammates Sasha Pavlovic and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Varejao doesn’t think he would need to mend fences with teammates over comments he made last week that he was worth more than some other Cavs players.

According to sources with the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James will sit out his third consecutive full game tonight with a sprained left index finger.

The Cavs (9-9) host the New Jersey Nets (8-9) at 7 p.m.

In an unexpected yet strategic move, the Cavs are expected to start Shannon Brown in his place. The team needs to open a roster spot to accomodate Anderson Varejao, who is expected to be under contract within the next few days.

According to various league sources, the Cavs will attempt to showcase Brown in an effort to trade him for a draft pick or a trade exception. Brown, who was taken with the 25th pick of the 2006 NBA Draft, has appeared in four games this season. He has scored 21 points in 39 minutes, but has hit only 7-of-24 from the field.

James injured his finger in the second quarter of the game against the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 28. He stayed in that game until halftime but did not play in the second half. He did not dress for games at Toronto and at Boston. The Cavs lost all three of those games.

Source:  Ohio.Com

ESPN just reported that the the Charlotte Bobcats reached agreement Tuesday on a three-year offer sheet with Cleveland restricted free agent Anderson Varejao, giving the Cavaliers a week to match the deal or lose him.ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher reported the offer sheet is worth $17.4 million, which would fit the Bobcats’ mid-level salary cap exception.Bobcats coach Sam Vincent has been pleading for a big man since the beginning of the season.Danny Ferry has made it clear he intends to match offers for Varejao and a 3-year, mid-level deal actually represents less than the best offer the Cavaliers have made (at least 3 seasons with a total value in excess of $20 million, with no opt-out for the player).Dan Fegan Varejao’s agent, forced the issue by contacting the Bobcats. Charlotte general manager Rod Higgins has a history with Fegan. His former team, the Golden State Warriors, signed Fegan clients Troy Murphy and Jason Richardson to big contracts. Then the Bobcats acquired Richardson.And this summer, the Bobcats successfully re-signed another Fegan client, Matt Carroll. 

The Charlotte Bobcats appear poised to sign big man Anderson Varejao to an offer sheet, although that’s a long way from actually having Varejao on their roster.

A Brazilian publication, UOL Sporte, quoted Varejao as saying he’s signing a three-year offer sheet with the Bobcats.

Varejao is a restricted free agent with the Cleveland Cavaliers. That means the Cavs can match any offer another team makes for him, and most likely they would.

The Bobcats figure to be offering the mid-level exception, which represents a first-year salary of $5.36 million this season. A player signing for the mid-level must sign for a minimum of three years, but the player can get an opt-out, making him an unrestricted free agent after two seasons.

If the Cavs match, that precludes the Bobcats and Cavs from doing a sign-and-trade that would exchange Varejao for Charlotte players. Cleveland general manager Danny Ferry has made it clear he intends to match offers for Varejao and a 3-year, mid-level deal actually represents less than the best offer the Cavaliers have made (at least 3 seasons with a total value in excess of $20 million, with no opt-out for the player).

So what’s all this about?

An educated guess: Varejao wants to become an unrestricted free agent as soon as possible. The Cavaliers wanted to lock him up for longer than two years at an affordable price. The two sides can’t come to a compromise.

So Varejao’s agent, Dan Fegan, forced the issue by contacting the Bobcats. Charlotte general manager Rod Higgins has a history with Fegan. His former team, the Golden State Warriors, signed Fegan clients Troy Murphy and Jason Richardson to big contracts. Then the Bobcats acquired Richardson.

And this summer, the Bobcats successfully re-signed another Fegan client, Matt Carroll.

Varejao would certainly address the Bobcats’ immediate need for help inside. He’s an energy guy and a rugged rebounder.

But the chances of the Bobcats actually acquiring Varejao appear remote. At best, this likely becomes a favor for an agent and an effort to show the fan base that the front office is trying to do something about the lack of depth among big men.

Source: Charlotte Observer

Lebron looked healthy yesterday at the Cleveland Clinic Courts. But his sprained left index finger still remains a source of speculation and “He’s day to day” coach Mike Brown said.

“It’s a slow process, the injury he has,” Brown said. “It’s a funny injury when you’re talking about your knuckles and your fingers. When you get that ball in your hand, you have a lot of guys swiping at it. Officials think he’s the strongest human in the world, but it’s a tough thing to have to deal with.”

Since the injury, the Cavs have lost to Detroit, Toronto and Boston. All three games were on the road.

The Cavaliers could not sum up the will and ability to beat the Toronto Raptors Friday night.  The lost 91-82, a score that if you didn’t watch the game might think it was closer than it was.  Even though both teams were without their stars the Cavaliers had a difficult time in helping the fans to forget that this team is very “standard” without LeBron.  I don’t care how many games they won last year without him.  The team really needs James and I am sorry to say we are just not that good without him.

For box scores click HERE.