The Cleveland Cavaliers are planning to waive Andrew Bogut after just playing 58 seconds in his debut last Monday against the Miami Heat. Bogut suffered a fractured left tibia less than a minute into his debut and he was ruled out for the rest of the season.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the Cavaliers are going to release Bogut since he won't be able to play in the playoffs. The defending champions plan to sign a backup big man so they have to clear a roster spot.
McMenamin added that Andrew Bogut will not undergo surgery to repair his broken leg and he plans to rehabilitate in his native Australia. But what's next for the 32-year-old center after another injury? Here are the three possible options for Bogut next season.
Return to the NBA
The Cavs signed Andrew Bogut because of his defense at the rim and playmaking for his position. However, his injury is a big blow not to the Cavaliers but to his career. The Australian star is known for being injury prone and he has to prove to the NBA once again that he is healthy heading into next season.
Bogut still has some years left in his NBA career but the injuries he had since he was drafted first overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2005 has piled up. Teams are going to worry about his ability to stay on the court.
But to his credit, Bogut can still at a high level and teams want a player with his skill set. Before he got signed by the Cavs, he was courted by playoff teams such as the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz.
Sign with the NBL
According to Michael Randall of The Herald Sun, Andrew Bogut needs to weigh his options next season. He noted that it might be best for Bogut to return to Australia and opt to play in the National Basketball League.
Randall pointed out that the NBL does not have the rigorous schedule that NBA has and Bogut will benefit having a four-game rest in between games to preserve his health. His presence also helps the expansion of the NBL that recorded their best attendance figures ever.
Bogut is not going to make a lot of money playing in the NBL. However, he already amassed about $100 million during his career in the NBA playing for the Bucks, Warriors, Mavericks and Cavaliers.
Retirement
The final option for Andrew Bogut is retirement, although he is still just 32 years old. But his injury history will surely come into play later in his life and he should think about life after basketball. His first major injury was to his foot in his second season.
Other injuries that Andrew Bogut suffered during his career besides the broken tibia include a stress fracture in his back, a gruesome arm injury in 2010, a broken ankle, a broken rib and the left sprained knee in last year's NBA Finals, per USA Today.
There are still many minor injuries in Andrew Bogut's resume so he should at least consider retiring. He already has a good career with one NBA championship. He does not need the money anymore so he needs to do a lot of thinking during his rehab and in the offseason.
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