If the Warriors win back-to-back NBA titles, it won’t be because of Anderson Varejao. But there’s a very real possibility that if they do win another championship this year, you’ll look back and say: They couldn’t have done it without him.
Multiple reports have Varejao, a free agent after being bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers, signing with the Warriors once he clears waivers. He’s being called insurance, a third center, an extra body, the new Jason Thompson and other minimizing type of descriptions.
But Varejao could become a factor sooner rather than later for Golden State, which has quickly found themselves thin up front. Andrew Bogut sat out Saturday’s game against the Clippers because of a sore Achilles, and we all know his delicate injury history. And backup Festus Ezeli just had knee surgery and won’t even be looked at again for another five weeks. In other words, who knows exactly where those guys will be health-wise come playoff time?
When you’re 49-5, you don’t have a lot of deficiencies and vulnerabilities. But the teeny-tiny ones you do have, Varejao helps you address.
Matt Steinmetz 