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Contract Negotiation NBA Players NBA Teams

Varejao: Coming To A Court Near You

Joakim Noah Bear Any Resemblance To Anderson Varejao?

Bizarro Joakim Noah (Anderson Varejao) may be heading back to the United States sooner than anticipated. After terrible contract negotiations between Varejao, his agent (Dan Fegan), and Cleveland Cavaliers GM, Danny Ferry, Varejao looks to end up back with Cavs for at least the next two years. Last week, I covered the Varejao case and looked at some of the reasons behind Varejao’s hesitance to sign a deal with the Cavs [Where In The World Is Anderson Varejao?]. Things have not cleared up between Varejao/Fegan and Ferry, yet Ferry will probably end up getting his player at what Varejao considers to be a value buy.

The Charlotte Bobcats have some big time problems at the center/forward position. They need someone like Varejao and have offered him a three year deal with the option to opt out after two years, for a total value of $17.4 million [Cavaliers have week to match Bobcats’ offer sheet]. The Cavs have a week to match that offer and bring Varejao back to aid LeBron James and crew in their effort to return to the Finals. It seems like Ferry is interested in doing just that. Interestingly, the Cavs offered him more money in their proposed three year contract, however, that contract may not have had the option to opt out after two years.

The Bobcats won’t be happy that the Cavs are going to match their offer. Hopefully someone comes out happy from this all, though. Varejao will be able to leave Cleveland after two years if he is still upset with management, and Ferry will hopefully get someone that can step in immediately and give the Cavs that extra boost they need to have any chance competing against the Eastern leading Celtics.

-Darren Heitner

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.