Andrew Bogut (Photo : Getty Images)
The NBA rumors now center on the waiver wire as the deadline for players to be eligible in the playoffs draws near.
Players have to be signed by March 1 to become eligible to play in the NBA playoffs. Thus, teams are scrambling to make final additions. The Cleveland Cavaliers is one team that's very vocal in their interest to tweak their lineup and they may add a familiar but not so friendly face.
Andrew Bogut, who played center for the Golden State Warriors but was traded away to accommodate the signing of Kevin Durant, has now cleared waivers. Initially there was some uncertainty on whether the Warriors could re-acquire him, but that was clarified by Anthony Slater of Mercury News.
"Since Golden State is now not the last team to trade him away, the Warriors are able to sign Bogut, should he be bought out. There's no word if there is interest from either side on a reunion. It didn't end particularly cordially between the two. But the possibility is intriguing."
However, the next question is whether the Warriors actually want him again. There is a sense that the Warriors have moved on from Bogut and vice versa. According to Hoops Habit, despite the common impression, Zaza Pachulia has been an able center for the Warriors, at least in comparison to what Bogut used to bring them.
Citing that "the Warriors allowed teams to shoot 57.7 percent from five feet and in and 37.5 percent from five to nine feet. This season the Warriors are allowing teams to shoot 58.3 percent from five feet and in and 37.6 percent from five to nine feet," Brian Sampson contended that there was hardly a difference with the statistics.
"No matter which direction we look the Warriors defense and rebounding has not appeared to have slipped with the loss of Andrew Bogut. The Warriors have also shown that they can be a successful defensive team without Bogut. It is time for the Warriors to stay moved on from the Andrew Bogut era."
Now the latest rumor from ESPN has Bogut preferring to sign with LeBron James and arch-rival Cleveland Cavaliers.
Tim McMahon was quoted: "Two [Dallas Maverick] sources say they expect Andrew Bogut will choose to join the Cavaliers once he receives a buyout from the [Philadelphia] 76ers."
With Bogut now on the other side, the anticipated rematch just got more interesting.
