Nomadic Bogut lands with Lakers
LOS ANGELES — Australian star Andrew Bogut has inked a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, his agent said on Tuesday.
Bogut, 32, had been a free agent since parting with the Cleveland Cavaliers in March, when he sustained a broken leg on his debut for the club.
The deal, confirmed by agent David Bauman, is reportedly worth $2.3 million for the 7-foot-1 center.
Bogut endured a nomadic 2016-17 season, starting out with the Dallas Mavericks, where he averaged three points and 8.4 rebounds in 26 games.
He was later traded to the Philadelphia 76ers and then reached a buyout agreement in February that freed him to join the Cavaliers.
His Cleveland career lasted just 58 seconds after a collision with Miami’s Okaro White left him with a fractured tibia.
Bogut, the No 1 pick in the 2005 draft, was a member of the 2015 Golden State Warriors championship squad.
His best NBA season was 2009-10, when he averaged 15.2 points and 10.2 rebounds for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Cunningham returns
A source familiar with the situation said on Tuesday the New Orleans Pelicans and forward Dante Cunningham have agreed on a one-year contract worth $2.3 million.
The source spoke to Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement has not been announced.
The 6-foot-8 Cunningham spent the past three seasons in New Orleans, where he averaged 6.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in about 25 minutes per game last season.
The 30-year-old has spent eight seasons in the NBA, beginning with Portland, which selected him in the second round of the 2009 draft out of Villanova.
Cunningham could start for New Orleans at small forward in a lineup that would feature DeMarcus Cousins at center, Anthony Davis at power forward, Rajon Rondo at point guard and Jrue Holiday at shooting guard.
Dragic quits Slovenia
Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic has confirmed he is retiring from the Slovenia team that won the European basketball championship.
“I achieved what I wanted, the gold medal, and this is the right time to bid farewell,” Dragic said on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old led Slovenia with 35 points to beat Serbia 93-85 in last Sunday’s final in Istanbul, earning the MVP award.
He said Slovenia’s qualifying campaign for the 2019 world championship will start in November, and it would be impossible for him to play due to his professional duties with the Heat.