A beloved former Cleveland Cavalier player is reportedly set to make a return to the team.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Cavs are planning to sign veteran center Anderson Varejão for the remainder of the current season. Varejão, who is 38 years old, last played in the NBA during the 2016-17 season with the Golden State Warriors. He spent over 11 years of his career with the Cavaliers, earning a place as a fan-favorite during his tenure. In 2016, he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in a salary-saving move, and after being waived by the Trail Blazers, he joined the Warriors.

After his NBA stint, Varejão returned to Brazil and played for his native country in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, during which he won a championship in 2019. He was originally selected in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic but was traded to Cleveland as part of a deal that also included Drew Gooden. Throughout his NBA career, Varejão maintained averages of 7.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

However, the Cavaliers currently face a roster challenge as they do not have an available roster spot. This obstacle means they cannot sign Varejão unless they make another roster move beforehand. Interestingly, if the team had not recently signed forward Mfiondu Kabengele to a multi-year contract, there would have been an open roster spot for Varejão. Now, the Cavs will need to make room for Varejão by executing another transaction to accommodate him for the remaining games of the season.

It’s worth noting that Varejão’s return to the Cavaliers is likely to be viewed as a concluding chapter in his basketball career rather than a comeback attempt for an extended NBA tenure.