With the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic moving past the Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers respectively in the NBA’s conference finals,  there are huge implications for both Cleveland and Denver next season as well Brazil‘s outlook for international competition this summer.

Two Brazilian big men, Nene and Anderson Varejao, played significant roles for the frontcourts of the two eliminated teams, and were pegged to do the same for their national team this summer.

However, both players may have to skip their national team commitments this summer, potentially leaving Brazil’s front court thin of experience.

Though Brazil still has Tiago Spltter, they will sorely miss the skills of their NBA big men.

Nene, Varejao in familiar situations
In the final game of the Lakers-Nuggets series, the 6-10 Nene fractured his arm in the fourth quarter.  The Brazilian big man left the gym in an arm cast, and casting doubt on whether the center will be available for National Team duties this summer.

It’s a shame, the injury-prone Nene finally made it throughout an NBA season without injury, only to sustain an injury in the last quarter of the last game of the season.  And in a blowout loss no less.

In the East, the Cavs were sent home by the Orlando Magic.  After garnering the best record in the regular season, the Cavs will have to figure what went wrong and looking forward to the next season.

But next season may possibly be without their backup center, Anderson Varejao, who provided much needed energy off the bench.  Varejao will most likely test the free agent waters this summer.

If Varejao does opt out, he is unlikely to risk his potentially largest NBA contract by participating with Team Brazil.  Not only does he not want to be injured, but teams may not want to take the chance of him having a subpar 2009-2010 season from the wear and tear of playing international competition instead of resting his body.

Back in 2007, Varejao agreed to a three-year, $17.4 million contract from Cleveland, after holding out for the entire first month of the season.  The contract had an opt-out clause after two seasons which brings us into this summer.  Varejao hasn’t mentioned one way or the other if he is going to walk away from the contract, but if he does, that could be more bad news for Brazil.

The other Brazilian NBA player, Leandro Barbosa, plans on participating this summer with Team Brazil as they defend their title in the 2009 FIBA Americas championship.  Brazil won the 2005 Americas Championship held in the Dominican Republic.

The tournament qualifies the best four teams out of the Americas for the 2010 FIBA World Championship being held in Turkey.

Links and Resources: Nene broke his arm in Game 6(AOL Fanhouse), Brazilian Basketball Forum (Interbasket), Brazil national team (Interbasket), 2009 FIBA Americas championship (Interbasket), Barbosa confirms participation in 2009 FIBA Americas Championship (FIBA)