The Cavaliers’ final piece of the puzzle as the defending NBA champions restock for their playoff run is headed to Cleveland, providing his next destination is his to choose.
A league source said Tuesday night that 7-foot forward/center Andrew Bogut will sign with the Cavs if he clears waivers at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The Cavs have no available roster spot, so they would have to waive a player on Wednesday to make room for Bogut.
Bogut reached a buyout agreement with the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday and was waived. Should he be claimed, it would cost the 76ers $10 million, so their front office had to be relatively certain Bogut would not get picked up.
The Cavs have been the front-runner for his services for days, although ESPN’s Marc Stein reported Monday that Bogut would also talk with the Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs before making his decision.
The Rockets had about $3 million in available salary cap money to offer. Bogut would make in the neighborhood of $392,000 with the Cavs.
Bogut could serve as the Cavs’ enforcer and a formidable rebounder and defensive presence. Bogut, 32, was selected to the NBA’s all-defensive team in 2014-15, when he won a championship with the Golden State Warriors.
A native of Melbourne, Australia, Bogut made the league’s top 10 defensive ratings four times — ranking second in 2009-10, ’13-14 and ’14-15 and fourth in 2010-11.
After losing to the Cavs in the 2016 Finals, the Warriors traded Bogut to the Dallas Mavericks. On Thursday, the Mavericks sent Bogut to the 76ers in a deal that brought Nerlens Noel to Dallas.
It appears Bogut has decided playing with LeBron James will offer him the best route back to the NBA Finals.
In his 12th season, Bogut has seen a dropoff statistically. In 26 games in 2016-17, he’s averaging three points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists, shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from the free-throw line. His career averages are 10 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists, shooting 53.4 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from the free-throw line.
The Cavs signed former Maverick Deron Williams to fill a need at backup point guard Monday.
When he spoke to the media before the Cavs’ game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Williams said he had already been in touch with Bogut.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her blog at www.ohio.com/marla. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.