While the headlines on Friday evening were dominated by the first trade of the young NBA season — Washington and Phoenix completed a deal centered around Emeka Okafor, Marcin Gortat and a 2014 1st round draft pick — one team out West made yet another under-the-radar move that could alter the landscape of the Western Conference.
The Golden State Warriors and Andrew Bogut agreed to terms on a three year, $36 million extension (up to $42 million with incentives). One that will keep the centerpiece of the Warriors front court anchoring the paint as its young, electric core continues to grow:
If Bogut stays on the floor and performs as a top-seven center in the NBA, he’s likely to reach the bonus incentives that could push the deal to approximately $42 million, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Myers and Bauman designed a contract for Bogut that will allow for payroll flexibility over the course of the three years, a league source told Yahoo Sports. Bogut will make $13 million-plus in 2014-15 before his annual base salary descends by 7.5 percent to $12 million in 2015-16 and to $11 million 2016-17.
Bogut’s skill and impact are unmistakeable, and if he can stay on the court, Warriors’ management hit a home run with this signing. When healthy, Bogut ranks among the leagues best big men, rivaling the interior presence of a Roy Hibbert or Tyson Chandler on the defensive end. But it’s not just what Bogut brings off the court that makes this extension a no-brainer, it’s what he brings off it as well.
He’s a smart guy, and one that is an excellent balance for any young locker room. If you missed it, check out this one-on-one interview Bogut did with Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com two weeks ago.
If Bogut stays healthy, he’ll get paid like an elite center. If injury problems return, it’s a 3-year, $12M annual base for Golden State.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) October 25, 2013
On-court ability?
Check.
Locker room presence?
Check.
So what’s left?
How about those pesky salary books?
Check.
Bogut is set to make $13 million this year. For a player of his caliber, especially considering position, that’s more than fair. But what might raise some eyebrows is that in most instances, contracts increase in salary as they progress, not decrease as in Bogut’s case. This is incredible value for the Warriors. They are paying Bogut a more than fair amount just as he is entering a season fully healthy and in his prime.
Bogut’s extension gives Warriors flexibility to sign players in future years of deal. He will make $13M-plus in first year, then descending.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) October 26, 2013
This comes at the same time that the Warriors still have shooting guard Klay Thompson and small forward Harrison Barnes on their rookie deals. So when it’s time to pay them — and that time will come — they won’t be garnering the heavy load of paying Bogut an increasingly high salary.
Did I mention they have Andre Iguodala as well?
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