The Los Angeles Lakers made a surprise move when they signed Andrew Bogut. Is he healthy heading into training camp?
In somewhat of a surprising move, the Los Angeles Lakers added center Andrew Bogut just a few days ago as a free agent. This signing was a bit out of left field, but it was a good one for the Lakers.
Bogut is a proven veteran in the NBA and is also a player that has won in the league. The Lakers want to establish a winning culture and adding players like Bogut will help that. In addition to some of the intangibles that he will bring to the Lakers, he will also give them even more size in the middle.
The addition of Bogut should compliment starting center Brook Lopez nicely. While Lopez is a great offensive center, he has never been considered an elite defender or rebounder. This is something that Bogut will bring to the table off the bench. Bogut will provide them with a good defender and rebounder when Lopez needs his rest.
Last season, Bogut had a tough time after the Golden State Warriors got rid of him. He spent time with the Dallas Mavericks to start the season. Later in the season, Bogut went to Cleveland Cavaliers. Unfortunately, Bogut suffered a broken leg in his first game with the team.
During the Lakers media day, Bogut talked about his leg. The good news for the Lakers is that Bogut said that he has been fully healthy for six weeks and working out.
Andrew Bogut says he's healthy and has been working out for the past six weeks.
— Matthew Moreno (@MMoreno1015) September 25, 2017
With training camp starting on Tuesday, it will be important for Bogut to impress early on. Considering that Bogut chose the Lakers over other playoff contenders, we know that he will be making the team for certain.
Next: 3 Reasons why signing Andrew Bogut was smart
Even though it was a tough season for Bogut last year, being healthy heading into the season is important. The battles between Lopez and Bogut during practice will surely help bring out the best in both players. With the addition of Bogut, the Lakers have an even more impressive roster from top to bottom.