Andrew Bogut Trade Rumors: Latest News, Buzz and Speculation on Warriors Center

The Golden State Warriors have entered the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, and the team could reportedly move on from center Andrew Bogut as a way to clear cap space for the superstar, if it succeeds in its pursuit of the four-time scoring champion. Continue for updates.Golden State Growing Tired of BogutWednesday, June 29According to a Wednesday report byCSN Bay Area's Monte Poole, "the team has grown frustrated by Boguts unreliability, particularly in times of greatest need." Citing sources, Pool added that "Boguts well-documented injury history...accounts for only part of the teams annoyance."Furthermore, Poole reported the team's decision to draft Vanderbilt center Damian Jones was "an indication of the teams frustration" withBogut.The icing on the cake, according to Poole, wasBogut's failure to produce throughout the playoffs before he suffered a left knee sprain in Game 5 of the NBA Finals that forced him to miss the series' final two games.In 22 postseason appearances prior to his injury,Bogutaveraged 4.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks while shooting 62.3 percent from the field. However, he was repeatedly bested on the boards by the likes of Enes Kanter, Steven Adams and Tristan Thompson. Comparatively,Bogutaveraged 5.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks over the course of the Warriors' record-setting regular season."Boguts offensive numbers are not meant to impress; scoring is not his role," Poole wrote. "But the Warriors have grown weary with his reluctance to engage himself on that end, which is something scouts have noted and opponents have exploited."Bogutmay not strike fear into the hearts of opposing defenses because of his limited face-up capabilities and his reluctance to attack the teeth of the defense on short rolls to the rim, but he still ranks among the league's premier rim protectors.According toSportVUplayer-tracking dataprovided to NBA.com, opponents shot just 45.2 percent againstBogutat the rim last season, which ranked fifth among players who defended at least six shots at the rim per game and appeared in more than 40 contests.The Warriors also allowed a whopping 5.8 points fewer per 100 defensive possessions whenBogutwas on the floor last season, per NBA.comlineup data.However, it should be notedFestusEzeliwho becomes a restricted free agent on Fridaywas one of the four players who protected the rim more efficiently thanBogutlast season. According toSportVU, opponents shot a meager 43.6 percent at the summit whenEzeliwas the primary defender.And as it turns out, the Warriors may be inclined to keep the 26-year-oldEzeliover the soon-to-be 32-year-oldBogut."If all things were equal and the Warriors were forced to choose betweenBogutandEzeli, two sources expressed belief the team would preferEzeli, who was cheaper last season but almost certainly wont be next season," Poole wrote.Bogut, on the other hand, will earn as much as$12.7 millionnext season with incentives before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2017.Contract information courtesy ofSpotrac.
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