Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut claims to have been lied to when first joining the Los Angeles Lakers last season in a non-guaranteed one-year contract, as the 7-footer felt the organization had assured him the team planned to keep him for the remainder of the season.
After signing the deal of Sept. 19, the Lakers waived Bogut on Jan. 6 after starting in only five of 24 games played with the team.
Per Mark Medina of the San Jose Mercury News:
“The Lakers did not make Pelinka or Johnson available for comment. But the Lakers maintained they would not have made such assurances to Bogut about keeping him on a non-guaranteed contract out of concern that it could violate NBA rules. Otherwise, the Lakers could have just offered Bogut a guaranteed contract.”
That waiver was the final straw for Bogut, as it became the third time he had been waived in two seasons — first by the Philadelphia 76ers (after being traded by the Dallas Mavericks), then the Cleveland Cavaliers after suffering a season-ending injury, and now the Lakers, whom he thought he would stay with for at least one full season.
With a child on the way, Bogut thought it would be best to relocate to his native Australia, where he won MVP honors upon his first year with the Sydney Kings, ultimately returning to the Warriors as the last roster addition before the postseason.
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