The Andrew Bogut experiment in Los Angeles is over, as the Lakers waived him today to avoid having to fully guarantee his $2,328,652 contract. Bogut and his agent offered his services throughout the NBA last summer, attempting to show that he was fully recovered from a fractured left tibia. However, the response was lukewarm and he wound up signing a one-year, partially guaranteed deal with L.A. shortly before the start of training camp.
The 33-year-old proved to be an awkward fit for the Lakers and averaged just 1.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 9.0 minutes of playing time in 21 games. He is expected to clear waivers Monday and hit the open market again, hoping to catch on with a contender for a playoff run.
The Cavaliers, who signed Bogut last March but lost him to the injury in his first game, reportedly aren’t interested in bringing him back. That raises the question of which contending teams might line up for his services.
The Celtics contacted Bogut in August and could be on the radar again, writes Nick Metallinos in an ESPN article, although fellow Australian center Aron Baynes already fills a similar role in Boston. Another possibility, Metallinos suggests, are the Bucks, who made Bogut the first player taken in the 2005 draft and who are expected to open a roster spot by waiving DeAndre Liggins. Milwaukee has been in need of help in the middle since moving Greg Monroe to Phoenix in the Eric Bledsoe trade, and Bogut would be an inexpensive addition. They also reportedly had contact with Bogut before he joined the Lakers.
Even though Bogut would have liked more playing time in Los Angeles, he was realistic about his situation and believes he benefited by showing the league he is fully recovered.
“The whole goal for me was just to come in relatively healthy from the broken leg, and just be ready to play,” Bogut said last month. “I knew there wasn’t going to be a whole lot of minutes [with the Lakers] because I was the 15th guy signed to the roster.”
We want your opinion on Bogut. Which team is the best fit for him, and do you believe he can still help a conteder? Jump into our comments section and leave your response.
Bucks and Boston makes some sense, but I don’t see him having a big enough impact on the court to help a team. Veteran voice who knows what it takes to win. That’s about the extent of his value.