OAKLAND – The Warriors have pondered a reunion with Andrew Bogut shortly after Damian Jones went down with an apparent season-ending injury in December.
The thought gained considerable traction when no other coveted big man, such as Chicago’s Robin Lopez, became available on the buyout market. Bogut, who will back up DeMarcus Cousins, become an alternate plan, according to league sources.
Adding Bogut now is practically a done deal. He could be available within the next three days, presuming he is granted clearance by the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League in Australia.
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There were some concerns within the organization, according to sources, but nothing so acute it would prevent adding the 34-year-old big man to a roster that has only one natural center in Cousins.
“I’m a little surprised because I figured Bogut was retired,” said one league source. “He hardly played for his last couple of teams. But I can see the thought process.”
Why Bogut? There are several reasons.
One, he is 7-feet, 260 pounds and a strong paint presence.
Golden State Warriors
Two, the Warriors looking ahead to potential playoff matchups against such brawny 7-footers as Oklahoma City’s Steven Adams, Utah's Rudy Gobert, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Portland’s Jusuf Nurkic, Toronto’s Marc Gasol and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid. There is a need for depth with size.
Three, Bogut spent four seasons with the Warriors. He knows the system and has played with six members of the team: Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Shaun Livingston and Kevon Looney.
Bogut last played for the Warriors in 2015-16 and was traded to Dallas in July 2016 as part of the roster makeover after the signing of Kevin Durant.
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Bogut last played in the NBA in 2017-18, appearing in 23 games with the Lakers before being waived in January 2018.
He averaged 11.4 points and 11.6 rebounds in 30 games with Sydney, which wrapped up its season over the weekend with a loss to Melbourne in the semifinals. Bogut had 10 points and 12 rebounds in the game.