Andrew Bogut agreed to terms on a contract with the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, but his timetable for joining the team is still unclear.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Bogut was granted his release from the Sydney Kings of the NBL, but on Thursday, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that Bogut was experiencing visa issues:
Bogut and the Warriors will now work to finalize a one-year, minimum contract. The NBL’s MVP is expected to hold a formal press conference soon with the Sydney Kings to announce his move. https://t.co/aXN82DW7x5
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 6, 2019
Steve Kerr said there’s no clear date of when Andrew Bogut will join the Warriors. Kerr says Bogut is still going through some visa issues.
— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) March 7, 2019
Bogut had a previous four-year stint with the Warriors from 2012 to 2016, winning an NBA title as part of the 2014-15 team. The former no. 1 overall pick started in 18 of 19 playoff games that year, averaging 4.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks after posting nearly identical averages in the regular season.
The 34-year-old played in 23 games for the Lakers last season, but did not have a very fulfilling NBA career after leaving the Warriors in 2016. Bogut is the reigning MVP of the NBL in Australia, and is known for his abilities as a rim protector.
Some analysts wondered whether the return of DeMarcus Cousins would make Golden State a worse team defensively, although the Warriors have struggled to defend this year regardless of who has been on the floor. But Cousins has actually recorded a positive DRPM value (1.97) since his return from a torn achilles.
Still, the Warriors have been known for making late additions to their frontcourt throughout their championship years, including the likes of David West.
Should Bogut eventually resolve his visa issues, he will likely see an immediate chance to play alongside Golden State's bench unit, particularly given the frustrating struggles of second-year center Jordan Bell.
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