SHENZHEN, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 09: Anderson Varejao #11of Brazil reacts during FIBA World Cup 2019 Group K match between USA and Brazil at Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre on September 9, 2019 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
All the way back in 2016, Portland Trail Blazers General Manager Neil Olshey traded a second-round pick to the Orlando Magic in a four-team trade that returned a first-round pick and Brazilian and Cleveland Cavaliers veteran Anderson Varejao.
Because they were significantly under the NBA’s salary floor at the time, the Blazers needed to increase their payroll at the trade deadline; otherwise, they would have incurred a salary penalty that they would have to have split amongst the current members of the team.