According to reports, the Cleveland Cavaliers have signed center Andrew Bogut, 32, after the Philadelphia 76ers bought him out earlier this week. The Sixers acquired Bogut from the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday as part of a package for Nerlens Noel. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported on Sunday that Bogut was expected to sign with the Cavaliers after the buyout:
Two Mavs sources say they expect Andrew Bogut will choose to join the Cavaliers once he receives a buyout from the 76ers.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 26, 2017
Cleveland Cavaliers Sign Andrew Bogut After Buyout
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Cavs had been interested in Bogut all season. The center played for Cleveland’s NBA Finals opponent, the Golden State Warriors, just a season ago.
Multiple teams besides the Cavs were linked to Bogut in the past few days, including the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics, and Bogut’s old Warriors team.
The Mavericks traded for Bogut last July. Dallas inherited the final year of Bogut’s three-year deal, which he signed with the Warriors in October 2013. Just a few months later, the Mavs dealt him as a salary dump in the Noel trade. Philadelphia had no reason to maintain another center, so the two sides quickly reached a buyout agreement.
Bogut, an 11-year NBA veteran, can provide valuable rebounding and rim protection for Cleveland. The 7’0” center is averaging about three points and more than nine rebounds per game this season. He’s also playing less than 25 minutes per game due to knee and hamstring injuries.
Bogut was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2005 NBA Draft. He played the first seven years of his NBA career in Milwaukee before being traded to Golden State in 2012. Bogut would go on to win an NBA championship with the Warriors, playing one more season with them before being traded to Dallas.
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