Cleveland Cavaliers: Right Move to Extend Anderson Varejao?

Health Concerns

There’s one point that’s cut-and-dry with no room for interpretation: Anderson Varejao has missed at least 51 games in three of the past four seasons. Even in 2013-14, when he was generally healthy, he was absent for 17 outings.

Considering he’s 32 years old and injury-prone, a three-year contract worth significant money isn’t the safest gamble.

At a time in which a combination of sports medicine and minutes management extend careers, his age isn’t very concerning. With that being said, most players who make it that deep into their respective careers don’t have extensive issues with injuries.

Varejao does.

In 2010-11, he tore a tendon in his right ankle. In 2011-12, he broke his right wrist. In 2012-13, Varejao had a frightening incident with a blood clot in his lung.

He also had patella tendinitis in his left knee and suffered a left high ankle sprain in 2004-05, but a 10-year-old pair of injuries aren’t of much relevance.

None of those injuries can be defined as recurring or lingering, but Varejao has an undeniable propensity for getting hurt. That’s a major factor when a reported $10 million per season is being handed to a player.

That financial number suggests said athlete is a genuine franchise building block. Can a 32-year-old with an extensive history of injuries actually be that player?

History says no.