Bogut set to join Sydney Kings in Australian league
SYDNEY » NBA veteran Andrew Bogut is set to join the Sydney Kings in Australia’s National Basketball League.
The Sydney club issued a brief statement Monday saying it had submitted paperwork to the NBL for Bogut’s recruitment. The Kings said they’d make no further comment “but will provide an update in due course.”
Speculation about the big Australian center’s pending move to Sydney intensified late Sunday after tweets from the club and from Bogut, who kicked things off with a post that read: “Are there any roster spots left for the upcoming (at)NBL season? Asking for a friend ...... ?”
No details of the deal have been confirmed. The NBL, which runs the eight-team league, said it had received paperwork from the Kings regarding Bogut and “we are following the standard player contract process as we do for all players.”
Bogut revealed in March that he wouldn’t be returning to the NBA this season in order to remain in Australia with his pregnant wife.
After being waived by the Los Angeles Lakers in January, it was expected the 33-year-old free agent would join a contending team for a playoff push.
But Bogut said he’d stay in Australia and focus on returning in the 2018-19 season. He tweeted that his wife’s pregnancy with their second child has been deemed “high-risk” and she’s not allowed to travel.
Bogut played 24 games for the Lakers after signing last September, averaging 1.5 points and 3.3 rebounds while starting five games. He was acquired by Cleveland in the second half of last season, but he fractured his left leg less than a minute into his debut with the Cavaliers.
Bogut was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft. He played seven years with the Bucks before a move to Golden State, where he won an NBA championship in 2015.
Cavaliers will start Calderon in place of injured Hill
INDIANAPOLIS » Cleveland Cavaliers point guard George Hill will miss Game 4 at Indiana because of back spasms. He will be replaced in the starting lineup by veteran Jose Calderon.
Coach Tyronn Lue made the announcement Sunday about 90 minutes before tip-off and says he’s not sure if Hill would be ready for Game 5 on Wednesday.
Hill aggravated his back in Friday’s 92-90 loss and was struggling to move over the past two days. The three-time defending Eastern Conference champs trail the Pacers 2-1.
Calderon scored five points in 13½ minutes in the Cavs’ Game 2 victory but did not play in Game 3.
Tristan Thompson also should see more playing time Sunday after logging 1 minute, 59 seconds in the first three games.