In a move that is both surprising and overdue, the Warriors waived veteran big man Anderson Varejao, according to The Vertical.
The reason for the move is the Warriors are claiming 6-foot-2 guard Briante Weber from D-League on a 10-day contract. Shaun Livingston is battling a back injury and Golden State wants to be cautious. Zaza Pachulia (shoulder) and David West (thumb) are also sidelined at the moment but are both expected back next week.
Is it possible Varejao could return to Golden State? It’s looking unlikely. Damian Jones is now back in the fold and JaVale McGee has become a hidden gem uncovered by president of basketball operations Bob Myers.
Varejao played minutes in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last season. Golden State’s front court now looks drastically different and it appears the Warriors will no longer need the 34-year-old’s services.
The move is deemed somewhat surprising because of the loyalty Steve Kerr showed the big Brazilian. Kerr himself was a longtime rotational bench player and made it no secret he had a soft spot for those type of players.
It’s expected that Weber will in uniform Saturday in Sacramento against the Kings. The 6-foot-2, 24-year-old is a product of VCU. Weber won the NBA Development League’s Player of the Month for January, averaging 21 points, eight assists, six rebounds and 3.6 steals for Sioux Falls. Weber has played seven games so far in the NBA.
In 14 games this season, Varejao averaged 6.6 minutes per game, 1.3 points and 1.9 rebounds — also meaning he’s been inactive for 36 of them. It’s up in the air if this could be the end of his NBA career.
