For Cleveland:
Varejao has looked cooked for some time now and though Frye’s best days on the court also are long past, he can help by stretching the floor. For a first-round pick (to Portland) the cost was a tad steep, especially if Cleveland is no longer good in 2018, but that’s unlikely.
Grade: C+
For Orlando:
A second rounder and saving a year of salary in another cap dump is the first move that has made sense for Orlando in a while. Still, why did the team sign Frye in the first place?
Grade: B
For Portland:
Taking on a year of Varejao’s salary is no big deal, considering Portland has one of the lowest payrolls in the NBA. Any time you can exchange a second round pick for a first, it’s probably going to be a pretty good deal (except when the pick is 28-30 and the second is 31-35, because you have more options with second rounders if they don’t work out).
Grade: A-