Andrew Bogut saw an abrupt end to his 2016-17 NBA season, falling to injury in his first game with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Aussie center collided with Okaro White of the Miami Heat and barely lasted a whole minute with the Cavs.
Bogut was as expected released after that as Cleveland was scampering to put the pieces together. Larry Sanders took his place but was released at the end of the season.
Right now, the Cavs do have a couple of low-profile big men. They are Edy Tavares, Ante Zizic, and Kay Felder. Without a doubt, Bogut can be of more use to head coach Tyronn Lue if the 32-year-old is 100-percent healthy.
The second time may be a charm
Bogut is currently a free agent, and all is quiet on which team would pick him up. According to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, there are at least four teams interested in the 7-footer. Could the Cavs be one of them?
Should the Cavs be among the teams considering Bogut, the least he could get is a tryout? However, it may be a tough grind for the Australian to determine how far he has recovered and test his durability for an 82-game season. If he passes, chances are the Cavs would sign him but on a short-term deal.
Tricky decision
Assuming that Bogut does enough to convince the Cavs to sign him, Cleveland will have to unload some of their players. The likely casualties would either be Tavares, Zizic or Felder who are all lacking the experience and skills that Bogut has proven the past seasons.
With a veteran like Bogut manning the paint, life becomes easier for practically everyone on both ends. Shooters are bound to gain more confidence, knowing that they have a tested big man in the middle. The same holds true on the defensive end, one that will anchor the running game that the Cavs love to do.
Bogut can also ease the pressure on the current starters of the team.
Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love get a big reprieve, knowing someone can spell or play alongside them. LeBron James will get a load off as well, knowing someone can protect the rim and collar rebounds for him.
The only catch is the true state of health of Bogut. The Australian basketball star has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, albeit questioning his ability to last an entire season.
On a good night, Bogut could score and wreak havoc against opposing teams.
His impending return makes him a bit brittle with teams knowing that Bogut may not be there for the 82-game grind. And even if he does get past that, there are the playoffs to consider.
The Cavs are still expected to advance to the playoffs despite the changes it recently underwent. Bogut could be a sensible addition, a second coming which will hopefully last more than a minute.
