The Cleveland Cavaliers are intensifying their pursuit for a big man after losing Anderson Varejao for the rest of the 2014-15 NBA season, ESPN reported.

Varejao, who averaged 9.8 points to go along with 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 26 games for the Cavaliers this season, will undergo a season-ending surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon he sustained during their 125-104 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.

With Varejao out for the rest of the season, Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported that the Cavaliers are expected to make a stronger push to acquire another big man - a rim protector that they have been shopping for since the start of the season.

Sources indicated that the Cavaliers, who are currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings with their 17-10 record, are currently in talks with the Boston Celtics about a possible trade.

The Cavaliers are reportedly trying to convince the Celtics to become a "facilitator" in a three-team trade, where Cleveland will acquire a rim protector and the Celtics will get a future first-round pick by giving up one of their big men in the deal.

"The Cavs, in recent days, have been in contact with the Boston Celtics about working as a facilitator in three-team trade scenarios," Windhorst wrote. "The Celtics, blessed with frontcourt depth in the wake of their recent acquisition of Brandan Wright in the Rajon Rondo deal, have been aggressive recently in their attempts to acquire future draft picks."

Sources added that the Cavaliers are not giving up in their bid to acquire Timofey Mozgov of the Denver Nuggets and Kosta Koufos of the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Cavaliers are planning to use their $5.2 million trade exception along with a protected first-round pick from the Grizzlies to acquire their targeted big man.

Sam Amico of Fox Sports also reported that the Cavaliers are interested in acquiring Brook Lopez of the Brooklyn Nets or his twin brother, Robin Lopez of the Portland Trail Blazers.

However, Brook Lopez has a lucrative contract and is set to earn a total of $15.7 million this season and $16.7 million next season. Robin Lopez will become an unrestricted free agent next summer, but the Trail Blazers are not planning to trade the 26-year-old center at this point.

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