Cavaliers firm in NBA championship betting after wooing Bogut

March 1, 2017 5:08 pm.by Todd Davey

AUSTRALIAN big man Andrew Bogut has officially selected the Cleveland Cavaliers as his landing spot after being cut by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Bogut’s agent David Bauman said the former number one draft pick plans to sign with the Cavs as soon as he clears waivers.

Bauman said the decision was “a lot harder than Bogut anticipated.”

The Cavaliers remain the second favourites at Sportsbet.com.au behind the Golden State Warriors, but have firmed in to the +275 quote.

The Cavaliers were desperate to sign a back-up point guard to complement Kyrie Irving and a centre that can provide presence in the post and they achieved that in their acquisitions of Bogut and former two-time NBA All-Star Deron Williams.

Cleveland landed Deron Williams and Andrew Bogut without giving up any assets in a trade. One of the benefits of being the champ.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) March 1, 2017

ESPN’s NBA analysist Chris Broussard said the pair give the Cavs a genuine chance at going back-to-back and upsetting the Golden State Warriors for a second-straight year.

“I think this would pretty much even the tables with them and Golden State.” Brossard said.

“Look, they wouldn’t have a Big Four, but they have far more depth than Golden State.”

Warriors sweating on Durant MRI

The Golden State Warriors remain the favourites in the NBA futures betting market, but last year’s finalists face a nervous wait on the health of superstar Kevin Durant.

Durant left the court in the opening quarter of Wednesday’s road loss against the Washington Wizards and did not return to the game after hyper-extending his knee.

NBA: Kevin Durant to undergo MRI Wednesday after suffering hyperextended left knee during 1st quarter of Tuesday’s… https://t.co/vQEmo1c4bD

— SportsAtWeb (@sportsatweb75) March 1, 2017

The Warriors are steady at the $1.70 price at Sportsbet.com.au to win the 2017 NBA title, but if Durant’s injury is revealed to be serious their position at the head of affairs will take a serious hit.