By Harry Allison
The Cleveland Cavaliers have emerged as the favorite to sign veteran center Andrew Bogut provided he can negotiate his release from the Sixers by Wednesday, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN that Bogut’s agent, David Bauman, and the Sixers remain in active buyout negotiations. The Australian big man is hoping to be waived by Wednesday, which is the last day this season players can be released and remain playoff-eligible with their next team.
Dallas traded Bogut to the Sixers last Thursday as part of the Nerlens Noel deal. And although he has a strong relationship with Sixers coach Brett Brown — formerly Bogut’s national team coach with Australia — Bogut has expressed to the Sixers that he is eager to make his way to a playoff team if possible to make up for all the time he has lost to injury this season with Dallas in what also stands as a contract year for him.
Various ailments limited Bogut to 26 games with the Mavs. A bone bruise in his knee and a hamstring strain, in particular, caused Bogut to miss extended stretches.
