The Golden State Warriors have been the talk of the NBA for the past two seasons. How could they not be when they are so good and have so much fun while being so good? The team is fun to watch on the court, but they even proved that they are also fun to watch off the court as well.
This Warriors team is doing historic things this season, but the best thing about them might be the fact that all of the players really seem to get along and like one another. At a time when many players are threatening to leave their current teams and form super teams with their friends, you never hear anything like that from anyone on the Dubs.
Andrew Bogut is the latest example of this, as he has come out and said that he would be willing to take less money to remain with the team long-term. Bogut is currently under contract through the 2016-17 season for more than $12.5 million, but he says that he wants to negotiate an extension so that he doesn't have to deal with free agency next offseason.
The Warriors may not be all that willing to mess with Bogut's contract this summer since they have to focus on restricted free agents Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli first, but if he offers to stay at a very low price, the Warriors might have to listen. Bogut's name has been mentioned as someone that they need to move on from this offseason if they want to make a run at signing Kevin Durant, like many expect them to, and on top of that, the Warriors have said that they view Ezeli as their center of the future.
Ezeli, though, had another injury to his knee this season, which creates some long-term concern, and signing Durant is far from a guarantee, so holding onto Bogut may be the practical option. The former number one overall pick will turn 32 next season and has seen his minutes reduced over the past couple of years, but he is still a big time defensive presence, and the Warriors rave about his impact on the team.
Bogut hears the rumors about Durant possibly coming to Golden State, but instead of that getting him down about potentially being gone next season, it motivates him. The seven-foot Australian says the best way to ensure the Warriors keep the team intact is by winning another championship because then "they're forced to bring us back." Bogut sees it as a no-brainer that he wants to stay with the Warriors because "you'd be silly to try and leave what's going on right now." Bogut's Warriors future is a question mark, but at least we now know what he wants to get out of this offseason despite the fact that he could probably find a larger role elsewhere.
