Andrew Bogut (Photo : Reuters)
The NBA Free Agency rumors are heating up, specifically on the biggest fish in the pond, Kevin Durant.
With LeBron James staying in Cleveland (at least for next year), KD hogs the headlines as teams line up to make their pitch. According to reports, the Golden State Warriors are gaining some advantage.
According to Chris Broussard of ESPN, speaking at the Russillo and Kanell show, he mentioned that if he were to choose, based on "people close to the situation," Durant would pick Golden State. Broussard repeatedly said though, that it's not definitive.
Broussard was also asked who among the Warriors would be leaving, since the Warriors need to free up cap space to accommodate Kevin Durant's max salary. He mentioned Festus Ezeli and trading Andrew Bogut.
It is necessary for the Warriors to trade players to gain enough cap space and it's either Andre Iguodala or Andrew Bogut. With the defensive job that Iguodala brings to the table, the Warriors are unlikely to move him.
According to Marcus Thompson of Mercury News, an ominous sign that Bogut might be the one to go is that the Warriors picked a center in the 2016 NBA Draft. With the 30th pick, they chose Damian Jones of Vanderbilt. Coincidentally, Festus Ezeli was the 30th pick four years ago-and he's also from Vanderbilt.
Jones can be a cheaper option than Bogut and Ezeli, who would probably command more money in restricted free agency, and Thompson thinks the incumbent centers could be on the move.
"Sounds like Ezeli and Andrew Bogut are on notice," Thompson declared. "This center situation is a predicament the entire supporting cast might feel this summer. Uneasy. Pressured. Replaceable."
Despite his defensive presence, there are many caveats to trading for Bogut. One of them is his injury history. Bogut got injured in the NBA Finals and it may have spelled the difference in that series. Another factor is that Bogut will be a free agent at the end of the 2016-17 season.
Teams in the NBA will know that the Warriors would need this trade to facilitate signing Durant. Thus, the Warriors might need to give some incentive for a team with cap space.
On the surface, it seems like the Lakers are the best candidates for this proposition. Since they are rumored to be pursuing Harrison Barnes, the Warriors could agree not to match the Lakers' offer, thereby releasing him, in exchange for the Lakers taking Bogut.
The Lakers have the most available cap space and a definite need at center. If they strike out on free agent targets like Hassan Whiteside, this trade could provide a veteran at the slot as well as Harrison Barnes. It would be a win-win situation for both teams as the Warriors get to sign Durant.
