Veteran contract extensions are rare in today’s NBA, but as we heard overnight, the Warriors and Andrew Bogut have opened discussions on a new deal for the Golden State big man, and could reach an agreement within the next few weeks. In his latest piece for SBNation.com, Tom Ziller questions why Bogut or the Warriors would feel compelled to get something done so soon.
Bogut suggested in his interview with Scott Howard-Cooper that multiple Western teams have already asked his agent about his free agent plans, which shows that he should draw interest next summer. As for Golden State, it may be in the team’s best interest to wait to get more than 44 games out of its injury-plagued center before committing to him long-term.
As we wait to see how negotiations between Bogut and the Warriors play out, let’s check out a few other items from around the Pacific Division….
- Sean Deveney of the Sporting News wonders whether Kobe Bryant will take a pay cut to help the Lakers next summer, breaking down several scenarios for how Kobe’s free agency could play out.
- A new Sacramento citizens’ group was formed yesterday to combat the proposed $258MM public subsidy for a new Kings arena, reports Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee. According to Kasler, the new group, Voters for a Fair Arena Deal, has taken pains to separate itself from the original effort launched by Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork, which received support from Chris Hansen.
- The working relationship between Alvin Gentry and the Suns came to an abrupt end back in January, but as Bob Young of the Arizona Republic writes, both parties appear to be better off after parting ways.