Anderson Varejão Returning to Cleveland Cavaliers in Player Development Role

Anderson Varejão is heading back to Cleveland…

One of the most popular players in Cleveland Cavaliers’ history, the 40-year-old Brazilian former professional basketball player has been hired as a player development consultant and global ambassador for the team that he played with for 14 NBA seasons.

Anderson Varejão Known for his hustle and frizzy hair, Varejão, affectionately nicknamed “Wild Thing” for his rambunctious playing style, was with the Cavaliers from 2004 to 2015.

He spent two seasons with the Golden State Warriors before the center returned to Cleveland after a three-year break from the NBA.

He retired after playing five games in the 2020-21 season.

Varejão had stayed connected to the organization, making periodic appearances at practices and games.

In his new role, Varejão will help develop players on the floor while also working with coaches and front-office members during the season. The Brazil native will also travel to broaden the team’s global reach, especially in Latin America.

“Andy embodies all that the city of Cleveland stands for and beyond, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring his experience, leadership and character back into the Cleveland Cavaliers family,” said Koby Altman, the Cavaliers’ president of basketball operations. “His infectious work ethic and commitment to our community have earned him his rightful place in the fabric of this organization and all of Northeast Ohio, and his impact on the game internationally will benefit our global outreach.”

The Cavaliers plan to honor Varejão with a halftime presentation during their Jan. 21 game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

“I am thrilled and honored once again to be a formal part of the Cavaliers family,” Varejão said. “This is a unique opportunity to start a new chapter of my life with the team I love and in the city I love.”

Varejão was a key member on two 60-win teams in Cleveland. He averaged 7.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in 596 games for the Cavaliers, who acquired him in a 2004 trade with the Orlando Magic.

In 2012-13, Varejão averaged a career-best 14.4 rebounds per game, and he ranks in the top 10 in several offensive categories for the Cavaliers.

Brook Lopez Returning to Milwaukee Bucks Lineup Against Utah Jazz After Recovering from Back Surgery

Brook Lopez is getting back in the game…

The 33-year-old Cuban-American professional basketball player and Milwaukee Bucks center who has been out with a back injury since opening night, will make his return to the lineup against the Utah Jazz on Monday night, the team announced.

Brook LopezLopez’s return fortifies the Bucks’ front line as the franchise prepares for the Eastern Conference playoffs and the chance to defend their NBA championship.

Lopez had back surgery on December 2, and had been rehabilitating the injury until he was cleared to return to full contact in practice a week ago.

The Bucks are outside of the league’s top 10 in defensive efficiency for the first time in coach Mike Budenholzer‘s tenure, and part of the reason is that they’ve been playing without Lopez’s rebounding and rim protection.

Milwaukee is 42-26 and second in the Eastern Conference behind the Miami Heat. Lopez was third in the NBA a year ago with 163 defensive box-outs, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

He also ranked second in field goal percentage allowed at the rim among 72 players to defend 200 shots, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Only the Golden State WarriorsDraymond Green (47.3%) rated better than Lopez (49.3%).

Lopez averaged 12.3 points, five rebounds and 1.5 blocks a year ago.

Pau Gasol Agrees to One-Year Deal with the Portland Trail Blazers

Pau Gasol will be blazing a new trail

The 39-year-old Spanish professional basketball player has agreed to a one-year, $2.6 million deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, according to ESPN.

Pau Gasol

Gasol joins a reshaped Trail Blazers roster that’s prepared to make a run at a return to the Western Conferencefinals — and perhaps beyond.

On Twitter, Gasol said he’s enthused to join the Blazers.

“I’m very excited to announce that next season (my 19th in the @NBA) I’ll play for the @trailblazers,” he tweeted, adding, “Ready and happy to join one of the best teams in the league!”

Gasol will be added to a center rotation that includes Hassan WhitesideZach Collins and Jusuf Nurkic — once Nurkic returns from a serious leg injury.

Portland had success with a center rotation that included Enes Kanter late last season and into the playoffs. Kanter signed with the Boston Celtics this summer.

Gasol brings the résumé of a future Hall of Famer as compiled across 18 NBA seasons, including two championships and six All-Starappearances.

He signed with the Milwaukee Bucks after a buyout with the San Antonio Spurslast season but played only three games with Milwaukee before a season-ending foot injury. 

Gasol finished the campaign having played just 30 games, averaging a career-low 3.9 points and 4.6 rebounds.

Gasol discussed a free-agent deal with the Blazers in 2016 before signing with San Antonio.

He also has played with the Memphis GrizzliesLos Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls, and he had an outstanding FIBAcareer with the Spanish national team.

Pau Gasol Looking to Return to the NBA After an Injury Cut His Last Season Short

Pau Gasol is hopin’ to return to the court…

The 38-year-old Spanish professional basketball player  and free-agent center is looking to return to the NBA after a stress fracture in his left foot cut his 2018-19 season short.

Pau Gasol

“My recovery from surgery has been smooth, and I expect to be fully cleared for basketball activities in August,” Gasol told ESPN‘sAdrian Wojnarowski. “I cannot wait to start training again.”

Gasol, who turns 39 on July 6, joined the Milwaukee Bucks after reaching a buyout agreement with the San Antonio Spurs in March. He played only three games for the Bucks before undergoing surgery to repair a navicular stress fracture in his left foot.

Gasol averaged a career-low 3.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 30 games this season.

Robin Lopez to Join Twin Brother Brook Lopez & the Milwaukee Bucks

It looks like it’ll be a family affairnext season for Robin Lopez

The 31-year-old half-Cuban American professional basketball player has reportedly reached a deal with his twin brother Brook Lopez’s team, the Milwaukee Bucks, according to ESPN.

Robin Lopez

Lopez’s deal will put the siblings on the same team for the first time in the NBA.

Lopez, a 7-foot center, saw his playing time decrease in each of his three seasons with the Chicago Bulls, and he averaged just 21.7 minutes in 2018-19 as Chicago increasingly gave its younger players more of a run.

Though Bulls coach Jim Boylenpraised Lopez for his professionalism and willingness to help Chicago’s young core while sacrificing his own stats, the Bulls had a roster crunch with big men, as 2018 lottery pick Wendell Carter Jr., Lauri Markkanen and Cristiano Felicio previously had signed multi-year deals.

Lopez is entering his 12th NBA season, with previous stops with the Phoenix SunsNew Orleans HornetsPortland Trail Blazers and the New York Knicks. He holds career averages 9.1 points, 5.3 assists and 1.2 blocks while shooting 53.1% from the field.

Brook Lopez Reportedly Agrees to Lucrative Four-Year Deal with the Milwaukee Bucks

Brook Lopez will be making big bucks

The 31-year-old half-Cuban American professional basketball player has agreed to a new four-year, $52 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to ESPN.

Brook Lopez

It’s possible that no single player changed his future more over the course of the last year than Lopez did by signing with the Bucks.

After the 2015-16 season — Lopez’s eighth in the NBA— he had gone a combined 3-for-21 from 3-point range. Since then, though, he has shot a staggering 1,224 three-pointers — including taking almost twice as many triples (512) as 2s (274) this past season with the Bucks.

And after signing with Milwaukee last year for their biannual exception, worth $3.4 million, Lopez became an essential part of the team’s remarkable turnaround this season and its elite units at both ends of the court.

That allowed Lopez to enter free agency this summer as one of the top free-agent centers on the market, and put him back in line for the kind of payday he received with his prior contract — a three-year, $60 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets in 2015.

In addition to setting career highs in 3-point makes, attempts and percentage (36.5) this past season, Lopez also averaged 12.5 points and a career-high 2.2 blocks per game.