NBA career

NBA Draft

Varejão was selected by the Orlando Magic in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft (30th overall) and traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers along with Drew Gooden and Steven Hunter in exchange for Tony Battie and two future second-round picks on July 23, 2004. He became a regular contributor for the Cavs, exciting fans and earning the nickname "Wild Thing" because of his wild hair and energetic and relentless style of play.

2004-05 NBA season

In his rookie season, Varejão played in 54 games and averaged 4.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 16 minutes played per game. He had a season high 14 points on March 26, 2005 against the Dallas Mavericks and a season high 14 rebounds on January 15, 2005 against the Utah Jazz.
Varejão ranked first in the NBA in steals per turnover (1.58), fourth in the NBA in offensive rebounds per 48 minutes (6.1), second among rookies in offensive rebounds per 48 minutes (6.1), and fourth in total rebounds per 48 minutes (14.3).
Vajejao spent six games on the Injured list with left knee patella tendinitis from Nov. 17-29 and 11 more from Feb. 1-27 with a left high ankle sprain.

2005-06 NBA season

After missing the first 32 games of the 2005-2006 season with a dislocated right shoulder, Varejão played in 48 games played (four starts), and in under 16 minutes a game averaged 4.8 points and 4.6 rebounds. Varejão had a season high 14 points on two occasions and a career high 18 rebounds on April 19, 2006 against the Atlanta Hawks.
On February 21, 2006, fans at Quicken Loans Arena attempted to break the Guinness World Record for "most people wearing wigs in a single venue" when 20,562 fans wore wigs given away before the game in celebration of Varejão's unique hairstyle. All fans in attendance were instructed to put the wigs on during a timeout. It does not appear, however, that the fans were successful, as the Philadelphia Flyers now claim to have the wig wearing record with 9,315.
As a major contributor during the Cavaliers' 2006 playoff run, Varejão averaged 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds (equating to 11.7 rebounds per 48 minutes played). During the Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the Detroit Pistons, he uncharacteristically shot over 80% from the free throw line and played a big part in the Cavaliers' wins in Game 3 (16 points) and Game 4 (drawing a charge from Chauncey Billups with 29 seconds left to play and by preventing Richard Hamilton from making a potentially game-winning shot).

2006-07 NBA season

In the 2006-2007 season, Varejão received increased minutes from Mike Brown. In 81 games played (six starts), he averaged 6.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game and was a staple on defense taking 99 charges in the season. This was the most in the NBA.[9] Varejão also tied with Al Harrington for eighth in the NBA in personal fouls (269) and was eighth in the NBA's Defensive Rating.
Varejão had a career high 17 points on December 11, 2006 against the New Orleans Hornets and a season high 17 rebounds (including a career high nine offensive rebounds) against the Utah Jazz on February 14.
Varejão played in all 20 of the Cavs playoff game, averaging 6.0 points and 6.0 rebounds. He had a playoff high 14 points and a career playoff high 14 rebounds in a Game 2 loss to Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals.

2007-08 NBA season

In the 2007 offseason Varejão became a restricted free agent, and he did not sign a contract with the Cavaliers at the start of the 2007-08 NBA season. On December 4, 2007, he signed a two-year $11.1 million offer sheet (with a player option for a third year at $6.2 million) with the Charlotte Bobcats. Under the NBA's collective bargaining rules, the Cavaliers had one week to match the offer sheet, and the Cavaliers did so on December 5, 2007.
In 48 regular season games played (13 starts), Varejão averaged career highs in minutes (27.5), rebounds (8.3), offensive rebounds (2.8), and assists (1.1). He had a season high and tied his career high with 17 points on April 2, 2008 against the Charlotte Bobcats, a season high and career high tying 18 rebounds on January 11, 2008 also against the Charlotte Bobcats, and a career high six assists on March 8, 2008 against the Indiana Pacers.[14] In his 13 starts, he averaged 7.9 points and 10.1 rebounds.
In 13 playoff games, Varejao averaged 4.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and a career playoff high 0.7 assists. Varejao scored 12 points in a Game Four win against the Boston Celtics and a pulled down 10 rebounds in a Game Two loss to the Celtics.

2008-2009

On November 7, 2008, Varejao scored a then career-high 18 points in a win against the Indiana Pacers. On January 2, 2009, Varejao eclipsed his personal best by scoring a career-high 26 points in a win against the Chicago Bulls.