Sixers Expected to Show Interest in Andrew Bogut
Per the Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Sixers are expected to show interest in former NBA center, Andrew Bogut. Previously a member of the Golden State Warrior’s 2015 NBA Championship team, Bogut just finished up an MVP and Defensive Player of the Year season in Australia’s NBL and will be looking to sign on with a contender ahead of the playoffs. The Warriors are also expected to show interest.
Multiple contenders, including Golden State and Philadelphia, are expected to express interest in upcoming free agent Andrew Bogut. His season has ended in playoffs of Australia’s NBL, where Bogut was league MVP and DPOY, and he will take some time to decide on next team.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 3, 2019
Currently 34 years old, Bogut is a former first overall selection. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2005 and eventually traded to the Warriors 2012. In four seasons with the Warriors, Bogut was a key piece in their starting lineup and helped them win an NBA title as well as set the NBA record for wins in a single season. He left the NBA in 2018 after being cut by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Over 13 NBA seasons, Bogut averaged 10 pts, 9 rebs, and 2 asts with 1.6 blks and 0.6 stls per game while shooting 54% on field goals and 56% on free throws.
As Joel Embiid continues to nurse tendinitis in his right knee and we wait for Boban Marjanovic to be reevaluated, adding some depth to a very thin backcourt isn’t the worst idea. Bogut is more of a traditional center and offers very little in terms of a three point shot and athleticism, but he’s a defensive minded big with NBA title experience; that’s about as good as it gets this late in the season.
It should be interesting to see who Bogut ultimately signs with. The Warriors are his former team, but the Sixers can relate to his Australian roots as Ben Simmons, Jonah Bolden, and Brett Brown all have ties to Australia.
In 30 games with the NBL’s Sydney Kings, Bogut averaged 11 pts, 12 rebs, and 3 asts with 2.7 blks and 0.6 stls per game on 56% shooting from the field and 60% from the free throw line.
