Bogut boosts title defense hopes of Cavaliers
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Andrew Bogut has changed jerseys, and perhaps sides in the NBA Finals, too.
The free agent center signed on Thursday with the Cleveland Cavaliers, joining the team he faced the past two Junes with a championship on the line.
Bogut spent the last four seasons with the Golden State Warriors, who could be on a collision course to play the Cavs for the third straight year.
A lot of hoops will be played before that, but the 7-foot Bogut gives the Cavs another proven veteran to help them get back to the Finals and defend their title.
Bogut, the No 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft, is not expected to make his debut with Cleveland until next Monday when it hosts Miami. The Cavs are at Atlanta on Friday and will finish a threegame trip against the Heat on Saturday.
Bogut deepens the Cavs up front as they await Kevin Love’s return from knee surgery.
The 32-year-old Bogut, who is also one of the game’s best passing big men, will be motivated to try and return to the Finals and face the Warriors, who traded him last summer to open salary-cap space so they could sign Kevin Durant.
“’He brings a physicality, a shot-blocking presence,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said on Wednesday in Boston before the Celtics beat Cleveland 103-99. “A guy who can pass the ball at the 5 position and that’s what we needed.”
Bogut was recently traded to Philadelphia, which waived him. There were several teams interested in signing him for the remainder of the season, but he chose Cleveland, which signed his former Dallas teammate, guard Deron Williams, just a few days earlier.
Williams had been in contact with Bogut after the pair left the Mavericks.
Bogut has averaged 10 points and 8.9 rebounds in his career, which began when Milwaukee selected the Australian No 1 overall 12 years ago. He’s the fourth new player to join the Cavs since the start of 2017.
General manager David Griffin has expertly overhauled his team, acquiring sharpshooter Kyle Korver, Bogut and three-time All-Star Williams, and signing forward Derrick Williams, a former No 2 overall pick, to a pair of 10-day contracts.
The Cavs intend to sign Derrick Williams for the rest of the season once his second deal expires this weekend.