INDEPENDENCE — Running along the beach in Brazil is a good way to stay in shape, but it’s not the ideal way to be in top-notch condition to play in the NBA.
Power forward Anderson Varejao learned that lesson the hard way a year ago, when he missed all of training camp and the first month of the regular season while involved in testy contract negotiations with the Cavaliers.
“It’s much better starting the season here,” the 6-foot-10, 230-pounder said. “That’s where you practice and have everybody to try and make you improve. It’s important for me.”
Varejao, who averaged 6.7 points and a career-high 8.3 rebounds a year ago, said it actually wasn’t too difficult getting into basketball shape last season after signing on Dec. 5.
Instead, the fifth-year pro pointed to a sprained ankle that forced him onto the injured list from Jan. 30 to Feb. 24 as the primary reason for his up-and-down play at the end of the regular season and in the playoffs.
“Getting the rhythm (after the holdout) was kind of tough, but I actually went through that easily,” he said. “The hardest thing was when I got hurt, I wasn’t 100 percent when I came back. My game was showing up (before the injury), but after I got hurt everything went down.”
Varejao remains one of the best players in the league when it comes to drawing charging fouls, but his propensity to gamble at the defensive end often led to blown assignments that caused his team to suffer in the playoffs.
At the offensive end, he struggled mightily to finish, often matching starting power forward Ben Wallace when it came to an inability to put the ball in the basket from close range.
After shooting just .407 from the field (22-of-54) and an even worse .429 at the line (9-of-21) in the playoffs, “The Wild Thing” spent about two months of his offseason in Cleveland, where he worked on keeping his elbow in and following through on his shot.
“This team doesn’t need to have me score to do well, but I know I can score and help us doing that, too,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a different season for me. I don’t know why, but I think it’s going to be a better season.”
There’s one obvious reason why Varejao wants to have a great season: He can opt out of the final year of his contract, which would pay him $6.2 million, and become an unrestricted free agent after making $5.78 million in 2008-09.
For now, though, the 26-year-old – Varejao had a birthday Sunday —– is concerned only about helping the Cavaliers fulfill their championship aspirations.
“I want to win,” he said. “Everybody here wants to win. We’re excited and we want to go get it.
“This is going to be a big year for us. It’s good for me to start the season with everybody.”
Tip-ins
Lakewood St. Edward High School and University of North Carolina product Jawad Williams has only an outside chance of sticking with the Cavaliers, but he has a fan in LeBron James. “The guy’s a lot better than guys who have roster spots in our league,” James said.
* James wore his Olympic No. 6, in practice Wednesday, but has no plans to switch for the regular season. “I’ll wear 23 in games,” he said.
* The 6-8, 250-pound James is open to playing more power forward this season, which could happen if Varejao and Wallace continue to struggle offensively and rookie J.J. Hickson is not ready. “I’m looking forward to it,” James said. “It’s going to allow us to get up and down and attack teams at the offensive end.” He added, “We have a lot of lineups. Putting me at power forward is another one.”

Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4061 or rickn@ohio.net.

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