The longest-tenured Cleveland Cavalier is sticking around for a while.
On Friday, the Cavs announced that they have signed center Anderson Varejao to a multi-year contract extension.
The deal is a three-year, $30 million extension, according to an earlier report from Marc Stein of ESPN, and the third year is said to be nonguaranteed. Varejao will start with a $9.6 million salary next year, earn $10.3 million the following season, and $10 million even in the final year, of which $4.5 million becomes guaranteed on Aug. 1, 2017.
Varejao has been with the team since the 2004-05 season, and general manager David Griffin highlighted the Brazilian's personality and style as key tenets of the Cavaliers' franchise identity:
Anderson represents how this franchise wants to approach the game of basketball, both on the court and off. He has been a key part of our foundation for years and we are very happy that he will continue to be part of our Cavs family as we work towards our goals at the highest level. Andy is, and has been, a tireless worker, an incredible teammate and a great competitor that plays with a rare combination of energy and intensity that makes him truly special.
With the extension, Varejao will now be with the team through at least the 2017-18 season, allowing him to further assault the franchise record books. He currently ranks fourth in rebounds, eighth in steals, eighth in blocks, and ninth in games played.
The 32-year-old remains an effective player, and his passing and rim protection will be paramount for the new-look Cavaliers. Durability has been the biggest issue for Varejao, as he's played in just 146 games over the past four seasons.
The lone holdover from LeBron James's previous tenure in Cleveland, Varejao is getting a slight raise from his current $9.7-million salary with the reported $10-million annual payday.
