LeBron James welcomes Andrew Bogut to Cavs

Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronne Lue says he is not sure when Andrew Bogut will join the team but he likes what the big Australian will add to his roster.

Andrew Bogut

Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronne Lue says he likes what Andrew Bogut will add to his roster. (AAP)

LeBron James likes Andrew Bogut's will to win, the depth he will add to the already loaded Cleveland Cavaliers' roster and the potential to reveal inside knowledge about their great rivals, the Golden State Warriors.

But James is not popping champagne corks to celebrate the Cavaliers' move to sign Bogut and point guard Deron Williams.

He knows the defending champion Cavaliers face a long road and many challenges to make June's NBA Finals.

"It doesn't," James said, when asked how Bogut changes the team by reporters in Boston.

"Our process is the same.

"How can we get better every day and put ourselves in a position so we can compete for a championship?

"It's the same storyline."

A week ago Bogut and Williams were on the struggling Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavericks traded Bogut to the injury-plagued Philadelphia 76ers, but with Bogut keen to join a title contender they agreed to part ways and he chose the top-ranked Eastern Conference Cavaliers over the Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets.

The Cavaliers have been vocal about their need to fill the void left by Australian back-up point guard Matthew Dellavedova, who departed Cleveland after their championship win when the Milwaukee Bucks offered him a four-year $US38.5 million deal.

Bogut posted the UB40 music video Red Red Wine on his Twitter account to signify he was joining the Cavaliers - the team's colours include the darkish red "wine".

It is believed Bogut could join the Cavaliers on the weekend, but coach Tyronne Lue said a definite date has not been set.

"I'm not sure when he will be on the roster," Lue, who added he liked Bogut's physicality, shot-blocking presence and passing, said.

When James was asked what Bogut and Williams will add to the team he replied: "Depth and we need it".

When asked specifically about Bogut, James said "he likes to compete".

"He will do whatever it takes to help his team win so I respect that."

The Warriors ramped up the arms race with the Cavaliers when they recruited All-Star Kevin Durant in the off-season, with Bogut being offloaded to the Mavericks to make salary space.

The Cavaliers added Atlanta Hawks three-point specialist Kyle Korver, but suffered injuries to starters Kevin Love and JR Smith.

When Love and Smith return in several weeks the Cavaliers will face the problem of delivering playing time to a roster that is talented and experienced all the way down to the 15th spot.

"The biggest thing is just trying to get everyone to mesh together," Lue said.

Bogut, 32, spent four years at the Warriors, including winning the 2014/15 championship.

"We'll see," James, said when asked if Bogut could deliver inside knowledge of the Warriors.

"Boges can probably give us something, but at the end of the day we have played them enough that we know what they run."


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world