CLEVELAND, Ohio - Of all the 29 other teams in the NBA, Anderson Varejao chose to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers' nemesis: the defending champion Golden State Warriors.

That decision has added another difficult layer on top of what was already an emotional couple of days for the Cavalier faithful in seeing their team trade away Varejao after 12 years with the club.

The Warriors have been a thorn in the side of the Cavaliers for the last two seasons. Now they've taken one of Northeast Ohio's most popular and well-respected sports figures of the last decade.

The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers in six games to win their first NBA title in 40 years; they swept this year's season series that ended in a January 34-point trouncing at The Q that contributed to David Blatt being fired; and now they swooped up Varejao.

Cleveland.com spoke to Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson and LeBron James to get their feelings on Varejao joining their West Coast enemy.

"They're going to get all of our intel now," Love joked. "Nah, but seriously, I'm happy for him. He goes to obviously a very good team. It's tough losing a brother like that and what he meant to this city, this organization. He was beloved here."

I reiterated to Love that it's the Warriors, though.

"Yeah, it's bittersweet," he said. "I wish him the best in his career and I want him to play well. Just not against us."

When I approached James about the topic, he was brief, but said he didn't have a problem with Varejao opting to sport the blue and gold.

"Not at all," James said. "The man has to work. He's got to work."

On the day the trade occurred, Thompson was emotional while speaking with cleveland.com. He patterned his game after Varejao's and said if it weren't for him, his transition into the league wouldn't have gone so smoothly coming out of the University of Texas.

Thompson went on to say that if the Cavaliers were able to win the title in June, that the team should find a way to send a championship ring to Varejao. "He would deserve it," Thompson said.

Well, that was before Varejao went West, and now he's in position to earn his own ring. Circling back to Thompson on Tuesday, he said his previous comment about getting Varejao a ring still stands.

"I can't wait to put on my new Warrior jersey," was the last sentence in an email Anderson Varejao sent me on Sunday.

That sentence stung around these parts, but despite it all, his former teammates understand he had to do what was best for him and his career.

"It's a business," Thompson said. "He wants to keep playing ball, so whatever is the best fit for him and whatever he's looking for, you have to be happy for him. Andy was more than just a teammate, he was a friend, a big brother, and so wherever he can go to keep playing, I'm happy for him, even with him being with the Warriors."