Minimal cost, maximum returns

THE Golden State Warriors made a power move that transformed an already ridiculously strong team further to becoming a cohesively uncontrollable mob manhandling anyone and everyone on their march to a three-peat.

Australian National Basketball League MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Andrew Bogut returned to Golden State for his second tour of duty with the Warriors after getting clearance from the Sydney Kings, his NBL team. The 7-foot wide body reportedly also received offers from several NBA teams including Philadelphia and Boston but both he and the Warriors had been in constant communication since December last year when GSW was inquiring of any outs from his NBL contract and if he can join the team before the year ends. Bogut was committed to his team and wanted to lead them to the playoffs thus he was non-committal to GSW’s overtures.

This month was the end of the buy-out contracts in the NBA and which opened the doors for Bogut’s re-entry since GSW did not sign available bigs Robin Lopez who remained in Chicago and Pau Gasol who was readily grabbed by Milwaukee. Things further got smoother when the Kings were eliminated from playoff contention.

Milwaukee’s top pick in the 2005 Draft, Bogut played for the Bucks until he was sent to Golden State in 2012 and played there for four years.  With the Warriors, he earned his first NBA championship in 2015 but was shipped to Dallas to clear cap space for Kevin Durant in July 2016.

He had some leg issues while with the Mavericks and missed 17 games and the team traded him to Philadelphia for Nerlens Noel in February 2017 but after four days was waived by the Sixers.  The following month, Bogut was picked up by Cleveland and in his first game with the team, broke his left leg less than a minute into his Cavs debut, immediately ending his season.  Cleveland promptly waived him after a week.

The LA Lakers signed him in September 2017 in what was intended to be Brook Lopez’s main backup but his minutes were limited and played in only 23 games. The Lakers waived him on January 2018 and went home to Australia to be with his pregnant wife.  In April, Bogut signed a two-year deal with the Sydney Kings.

An in-form Bogut comes to GSW on a $486,892 contract for the remainder of the season and the possibility of a one-year deal next season for the veteran’s minimum. In-form because the NBL only has 8 teams with 28 regular season games without back-to-backs, spread in about 6 months with four teams advancing to the playoffs. The semis is a best-of-3 affair, finals a 5-game series. Compared to the NBA’s 82-game sked, the NBL, though games are also tough, are kind of gentle on the bodies when talking about wear and tear.

DeMarcus Cousins surely would be happy of the development likewise the Splash Brothers as they get to reunite with their favorite screener. Aside from his well-placed hard screens, the Big Aussie is one of the best passing defensive centers the league ever had and has excellent basketball IQ. Ten to twelve minutes a game gives a strong inside presence for the Warriors. And with a potential Finals duel with Milwaukee, GSW will be at par with the Bucks frontline.

But he’s being realistic. “I’m under no illusions that anything is guaranteed for me here.  It’s an absolute honor to go and sign here and not play a minute. Anything more than that is a bonus. I’m not silly. I know I’m older. They have some very good players playing,” Bogut said.

Bogut is already familiar with the vets on the team and knows by heart Steve Kerr’s system. A second title ring for him is almost sure and the Warriors won’t find it a problem as they already have his ring size. He’s expected to be with the Warriors during their road trips to Houston, Oklahoma, San Antonio and Minnesota.

This early, I dare say Golden State will three-peat in six games at most./PN