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LOS ANGELES, USA – Australian center Andrew Bogut denied a report that he had requested a move from the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday but conceded his future might be with another NBA franchise next season.
The Mavericks are languishing near the foot of the Western Conference standings at 11-24, raising questions about Bogut’s future at the club.
“I’m not silly. I’ve been in this league long enough. I’m an expiring contract,” Bogut said.
“I haven’t asked for a trade, but I know in this league we’re 11-24… There’s a chance that I get traded. That turned out into a headline that says ‘Bogut wants out,’ which is false, but it’s just one of the things you have to deal with in this league.”
Bogut, 32, played on the NBA champion Golden State Warriors two seasons ago and again last season, when they went an NBA-record 73-9 in the regular season and came within one game of repeating as champions before falling to Cleveland in the NBA Finals.
When the Warriors made a move for Kevin Durant, Bogut was sent to the Mavericks to free salary room.
Now his contract is almost up and he expects the Mavericks will look to swing a deal to exchange him rather than lose him for nothing if he plays out his deal.
“They can obviously get some picks back and build for the future by trading some of the veteran guys, and I could be one of them,” Bogut said. “Hint and emphasis on ‘could.’ I’m not saying I’ve gone to management and asked for a trade, which I haven’t.
“I also haven’t gone to management and begged them not to trade me. I’m just waiting to see what happens.”
Bogut said he hopes the Mavericks keep him to the end of the season, citing unspecified personal reasons.
Despite the benching, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle calls Bogut “one of our best players” and “one of our most-productive players.”
“We’ve talked about … re-signing him as a real possibility… The fact that he’s not starting is really kind of an outlier type situation, but he’s extremely productive whether he starts or doesn’t start.”
Despite Carlisle’s praise, Bogut said he does not expect to be back.
“If you’re asking me today and I had to put my house on it, I’d say no, just because if there was an opportunity for me to come back, there would have been at least extension talks,” Bogut said.
“I’m not bitter about (it). I’m not mad about it. It’s just the reality of it. It’s the writing on the wall.” – Rappler.com
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