Report: Bogut still in the mix for the Celtics, has "good talk" with Ainge

Reports from ESPN that Andrew Bogut will be a Cavalier appear to be premature as a new Boston Globe report states that not only has Bogut yet to commit to the Cavs, but he had a "good talk with Danny Ainge Monday night and will likely speak to Brad Stevens later today.

The source told the Globe that reports stating Bogut has decided to sign with the Cavaliers after he clears waivers on Wednesday are inaccurate, and that the Celtics are very much in contention.

Bogut and Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge had a “good talk” on Monday night, the source said. The source said Bogut is also planning to speak to Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue, as well as Celtics coach Brad Stevens.

Bogut may even speak to a few Celtics players over the phone on Tuesday to get a gauge on how he might fit with their team, the source said. Bogut would like to select his new team by the end of Tuesday, the source said.

Bogut would obviously help the Celtics on the boards and with interior defense, but what Ainge has to decide is whether Bogut's pluses on defense will outweigh his negatives on possibly both sides of the ball. When Bogut would be paired with Al Horford, you'd have to have Horford guard 4's which he has struggled with. Also on offense the Celtics free flowing offense could struggle with a big man clogging the paint. I do think Bogut would help the Celtics in limited minutes as Horford's back-up. I don't want to see them paired together on the court at all.

While people assumed that if Bogut chose Boston, that the Celtics would sign him with open arms, apparently that is still undecided.

President of basketball operations Danny Ainge has made it clear that he is reluctant to dive into the buyout market. While declining to comment on any specific players, Ainge said in a phone interview earlier Monday that the team would be comfortable moving forward as currently constructed.

“I like our team right now,” he said, “and unless something really jumps out to us where I feel like we can get significantly better, I’d just assume keep our team intact.”

If the Celtics were to sign Bogut, they would need to cut a player from the 15 man roster. Jordan Mickey due to not having any guaranteed money on the Celtics books past this season is the most likely cut candidate.