The two-time defending Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors made a rare roster move on Friday. According to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the team waived veteran center Anderson Varejao to make room for D-league star Briante Weber.
Sources on @TheVertical: Golden State is waiving Anderson Varejao, clearing way to sign D-League guard Briante Weber to a 10-day contract
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 3, 2017
Varejao’s ultimate demise in Golden State isn’t necessarily a surprising piece of information. Even with the team losing Andrew Bogut to make room for Kevin Durant during the summer, the veteran center has taken a back seat to both JaVale McGee and Zaza Pachulia in the Warriors’ center rotation.
Picked up from the Portland Trail Blazers after being traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers last season, Varejao acted as a tough man inside for th 73-9 Warriors. However, he’s struggled to crack the rotation this season and is averaging just 1.3 points in less than seven minutes of action on the season.
The bigger news here is that Golden State was able to add Weber from the Miami Heat’s D-league team before Miami itself had a chance to call him up. That’s somewhat of a coup.
Weber, a product of VCU, went undrafted back in 2015. However, he’s been a star in the D-league, averaging 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game this season. Miami had been considering bringing him up before the Warriors swooped in.
Weber will be on a 10-day contract with the Warriors.
