Varejao says he wants out of Cleveland

CLEVELAND (AP) — Free agent Anderson Varejao, who helped Cleveland make its first NBA finals last season, has grown so frustrated with stalled contract talks that he no longer wants to play again for the Cavaliers.

Varejao, a frizzy-haired forward who sparked the Cavs last season with his hustle and hard-nosed play, said he hasn’t been treated fairly by Cleveland general manager Danny Ferry and would prefer to be traded.

“I wanted to come back. I love the fans and I really love my teammates,” Varejao told ESPN.com in a phone interview from Brazil. “But there are others there that have made it very difficult.

“It’s gotten to the point that I don’t want to play there anymore. I’m just hoping for a sign-and-trade at this point.”

With his agent, Dan Fegan, and Ferry at an impasse over a long-term contract, Varejao has stayed home to work on his game.

In his third season, the 25-year-old averaged 6.8 points and 6.7 rebounds last season. But beyond those stats, Varejao led the league in drawing charges as one of the NBA’s top reserves and became a favorite with Cleveland fans who appreciated his recklessness on the floor.

After the Cavs were swept in the finals by the San Antonio Spurs, the former second-round pick entered the offseason as a restricted free agent, which meant the Cavaliers could match any offer made by another team.

None ever came, and Varejao’s camp began talks with the Cavaliers about a long-term deal. Fegan initially asked in late September for a reported six-year deal worth more than $60 million, a price the club felt was way too high for a backup big man with limited offensive skills.