Bogut willing to scarfice millions to play on winning team

[icat2000]

ANDREW Bogut explains why he would pass up $80million to be a winner as the Boomers star speaks to Chris Wilson

Andrew Bogut wants to play on a winning NBA team, and says he is willing to sacrifice millions of dollars to do so.

Not only that, he wants to be an NBA All-Star as early as next season.

Bogut also wants to lead the Australian Boomers to their first major international medal before his career is over.

And right now? Well, he just wants the ball in his hands. More.

Bogut speaks so quickly, at first you wonder whether he's even given these questions any thought.

Then you realise his ambitions are so top of mind that there's no need for the pause between brain and tongue.

He has always known exactly what he wants, but Bogut is trying to change the abrasive manner in which he used to go about getting it all.

Training

THE Milwaukee Bucks are training behind closed doors at New York City's Baruch College on a two-court gym built for privacy, literally two floors underground. They are to play their sixth game in nine days that night, but Bogut tries to lighten the mood and his heavy legs by breaking into a short hip-hop dance after hitting a string of shots. He is a towering seven feet (2.13m) tall. His size 17 feet are both seemingly left.

"I love Drew, he's so down to earth,'' the team's massage therapist offers when he spots The Sunday Telegraph spying through a slit of glass in the door.

"It doesn't matter how much money he gets, he won't play big shot.''

Funny. In Australia, Bogut has often been labelled arrogant, downright big-headed. This was a career built on teenage angst. Cocky kid left out of Victorian junior rep team, feels hard done by, considers switching allegiance because of family heritage in Croatia, before being called into the AIS squad to start his journey to the NBA.

Then, on the biggest day of his life, when he's about to go No1 pick in the 2005 NBA draft, Bogut puts those size 17s in his gob. His US college career has been superior to that of any other Australian, he spruiks, and it's "unfair'' to compare him with Luc Longley, a three-time NBA championship winner.

"I'm not as slow as Luc Longley, I'm more athletic, I can shoot better, I'm more competitive ...''

A smile breaks at the side of Bogut's mouth when he detects the question of his attitude is coming up.

"I'm more mellow,'' he says, his calmness telling more than the actual words.

"I've definitely made mistakes in my life, media-wise and whatever, but I'm getting more content and just trying to take life as it comes.

"I've got the ability to help my family out back home (in Melbourne). I've set them up financially, so that helps. I'm definitely different but, at the same time, I don't want to lose that fire that breathes under me and keeps me going.''

The NBA

MILWAUKEE'S 19-34 record doesn't lie: the Bucks aren't great. But of his three seasons in the NBA, Bogut rates this as his best. The centre admits he's been biting his tongue for two years. At times he's been frustrated, felt under-utilised.

That changed after Milwaukee's final game of 2007, a 45-point loss to Detroit, when coach Larry Krystkowiak took a seat next to Bogut on the team bus.

"I told him to get ready to put a saddle on because we were going to start riding him a little bit and that he was going to be a go-to guy for us,'' Krystkowiak said.

"As a coaching staff, we sat down and figured out a bunch of new plays to run. I think it was important for his confidence ... I think the time's right for him now, and he knows that.''

It could be the move that links Bogut to the Bucks for six or seven years.

Last month, he averaged 16.9 points and 9.2 rebounds in 17 games - well up on his career averages of 11.3 and 8.1. He still has another year remaining on his contract, but extension negotiations will begin at the end of this season.

"That's something I'm going to be adamant about in off-season negotiations. It isn't going to be all about money for me, it's going to be about my role within the team: I want it to be bigger and better,'' Bogut says.

"At the same time, I'd rather be on a winning team than take $70-80million (over five to six years), so I think if we're building for the future, that's definitely something I'd like to be a part of.''
Bogut says he's not an NBA star, but he plans to be.

"I definitely think I can be an All-Star in this league. It's a matter of working hard and progressing, not just saying it. Once I'm ready, I'll know and everyone else will know, put it that way. But I've got a lot of work to do, I'm nowhere near where I need to be.''

Road to Beijing

BOGUT will be the focal point for the Boomers in Beijing, his second Olympics, but he's yet to finalise his training program with Basketball Australia.

He wants time off after the NBA season. The 23-year-old says he took on too much before the 2006 world championships, which he believes contributed to two injuries in the following NBA season. It's most likely he'll join the Boomers in late June or early July, giving him a month to prepare.

"It's a touchy subject because you want to be with the team and you want to learn the system with the guys. But, at the same time, I've got to look after my body,'' he said.

Bogut is excited about Australia's league of big men - Daniel Andersen (Russia) and Matt Nielsen (Lithuania) playing overseas, and Chris Anstey and Nathan Jawai in the NBL. The guards, he says, remain a question. But Bogut has endorsed 19-year-old point guard Pat Mills, starring as a freshman for St Mary's College in the US.

"In the past, Australia's had scoring point guards but I think this team's going to need a distributor,'' he says.

"I think (Mills is) definitely ready ... I could see him coming off the bench and, maybe once we get to the tail-end of the campaign, he'd probably be starting.''

Generation next

BOGUT also called for a wider changing of the guard in the national team, claiming Australia hadn't been ready when stock players such as Andrew Gaze, Mark Bradtke, Longley and Shane Heal retired.

"These next Olympics are very important but, at the same time, I think we need to build,'' the former under-20s world champion said.

"I think those spots from 8-12 in the squad should be for young guys, so when older guys go there are players to step up straight away.''

Bogut also expects other Australians will soon join him in the NBA. Brad Newley, drafted by the Houston Rockets last year, is playing in Greece, while Bogut also praised the development of Sydney duo Alex Marik (Nebraska) and AJ Ogilvy (Vanderbilt) in US colleges.

"Marik is close to seven foot, he's 125kg, he can run, move, and he's got nice touch, so I think he'd be the most NBA-ready,'' Bogut said.

"Ogilvy's probably the best prospect to go high in the draft, whether it be next year or the year after. It depends if he thinks he's ready - it's a big step.

"In about five years we'll see much more. There's some guys coming out of college that have a chance to be draft picks. We've also got a lot of guys opting for Europe now, which is good to see.

No disrespect to the NBL, but I think if guys like Brad Newley are trying to get to the NBA, Europe's the next step. It's very hard to jump from the NBL to the NBA.

"I think in the long run, if you have 10, 15 or 20 guys playing in the NBA, it's going to promote the NBL even more.''

Chris Wilson was a guest of ESPN
Source:
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 23,00.html

[Andrew34r]

The weird thing is that I actually believe that he would take less to be with a winner. A lot of NBA players go for ther big pay days...the Bucks better turn things around awfully quickly or they are going to lose their first talented big guy they have had in quite some time.

[europa]

In my team meeting thread I posted that I've heard there are some serious rumblings internally that Bogut won't stay with the Bucks beyond his rookie deal unless some major changes are made. I think he's clearly alluding to those changes in this article.

"I'd rather be on a winning team than take $70-80million (over five to six years), so I think if we're building for the future, that's definitely something I'd like to be a part of.''

I don't think he can be any clearer than he is right here. And I think he has every reason to feel that way. Given what appears to be transpiring not only on the court but within the locker room, I think Bogut has every right to be fed up. Now, it can be argued that if Bogut showed more in his first 21/2 seasons the Bucks would be better off. I would agree with that point of view. However, there is a culture of losing that has enveloped this team and a way of playing and behaving that Bogut clearly stands apart from.

I'll post the same thing here I posted in my team meeting thread - I think the Bucks need to take a good, long look at this team and decide who they can least afford to lose. In my opinion, the No. 1 player on that list is Andrew Bogut. He isn't untouchable by any means but he's shown far more team-oriented play and attitude consistently than anyone else on the roster.

[Newz]

I would rather him go play for another team than us pay him 70-80 million as well... He isn't worth that sort of money.

How is this guy worth more than 8-9 million per year when he has played one above average month of basketball in his entire career?

[DH34Phan]

I would rather him go play for another team than us pay him 70-80 million as well... He isn't worth that sort of money.

How is this guy worth more than 8-9 million per year when he has played one above average month of basketball in his entire career?

Exactly.

If hope we can get him 6 years, $60 million.

[europa]

I would rather him go play for another team than us pay him 70-80 million as well... He isn't worth that sort of money.

How is this guy worth more than 8-9 million per year when he has played one above average month of basketball in his entire career?

I think he's primarily making a point and not so much issuing a statement about the type of contract he'll be seeking. That said, given how out of whack the Bucks' salary structure is he could very easily demand $12M a year and not be out of line.

[DH34Phan]

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I think he's primarily making a point and not so much issuing a statement about the type of contract he'll be seeking.

What's his point? He's not worth an $80 million dollar contract.

[Newz]

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I think he's primarily making a point and not so much issuing a statement about the type of contract he'll be seeking. That said, given how out of whack the Bucks' salary structure is he could very easily demand $12M a year and not be out of line.

Would you give Bogut a 6 year 72 million dollar deal?

I think the guy has taken some strides this year, but I certainly wouldn't pay him that much. I'd aim for around 6 years 48 million, I think that'd be a good deal for him considering the numbers that he has posted and the impact he has had on the team thus far.

[icat2000]

His point is he values a winning culture more.

[xTitan]

I would rather him go play for another team than us pay him 70-80 million as well... He isn't worth that sort of money.

How is this guy worth more than 8-9 million per year when he has played one above average month of basketball in his entire career?

if he played with any type of unselfish team he would put up much better numbers...an undersized 2 like Mo Williams makes over $8 million so I really know you are not that clueless.

[Fort Minor]

Doesn't Varajeo make around $8 mil a year? You don't think Bogut's worth more than Varajeo?

Fact of the matter is, Bogut won't come cheap. I don't see any team in the league offering him less than $10 mil a year. That's just the way things are these days in the NBA.

[europa]

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Would you give Bogut a 6 year 72 million dollar deal?

Nope. But on a team where Dan Gadzuric is making $6M a year; Bobby Simmons is making $10M a year and Mo Williams is making nearly $9M a year, I think Bogut would have every right to point to that and demand $12M a year. I don't think he'd be out of line at all. He isn't worth $12M but that's not the point. That's the problem the Bucks have created for themselves.

But again, I don't think he's issuing a statement about his next contract here. I think he's talking about how fed up he is with the culture of losing that has enveloped this team and how he'll walk away from it if the Bucks don't make serious and intelligent moves to correct it.

On that count, I agree with him 100%. I'm a Bogut fan and I want him to stay but if this team is going to continue to drown in a culture of losing and continue to make poor decision after poor decision he might as well leave and go somewhere else.

[Newz]

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if he played with any type of unselfish team he would put up much better numbers...an undersized 2 like Mo Williams makes over $8 million so I really know you are not that clueless.

I think Andrew Bogut is right on Mo Williams level as a player, so I think that they should be paid right around the same amount of money.

The most I'd give Bogut is a 6 year 60 million dollar deal, anything more I would let him walk or trade him for an impact player.

[Newz]

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Then you are an idiot

Wow, that's an insightful response.

Let's pay a center who averages 13/9 twelve million dollars per year because he has played one good month in his entire NBA career. I look like a lot less of an idiot than you do trying to make that argument, just FYI.

[Newz]

Doesn't Varajeo make around $8 mil a year? You don't think Bogut's worth more than Varajeo?

Fact of the matter is, Bogut won't come cheap. I don't see any team in the league offering him less than $10 mil a year. That's just the way things are these days in the NBA.

Considering Varaejo makes around 5.8 million dollars per year...

Yes I think Bogut is worth more, I think he is worth 8-9 a year rather than 5.8.

[Fort Minor]

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Considering Varaejo makes around 5.8 million dollars per year...

Yes I think Bogut is worth more, I think he is worth 8-9 a year rather than 5.8.

I must've mixed that up with what he wanted rather than what he got.

But anyways, Bogut is certainly worth more than Samuel 6 year 60 mil Dalembert.

[schweig]

$13-14 million a year seems a little high, and now with his hip injury there's a good chance it'll be tough to continue any upward trend and prove he deserves it. It would be awful to give out another big contract based on hopes and potential, even though as mentioned it's the best chance we have right now.

But it's a nice idea he's talking about, if he follows through and the Bucks don't screw it up. It's hard to see anyone taking a hometown discount to help out the Milwaukee Bucks.

Edit: Dalembert's contract crossed my mind too. I was thinking of starting a topic the other day, "What's the big extension Bogut would have to turn down to go play with a better team?" and never got around to it. Something around 6/$70M probably would've been my starting guess.

[InsideOut]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess we either lose him or way overpay him.

[showtimesam]

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I think Andrew Bogut is right on Mo Williams level as a player, so I think that they should be paid right around the same amount of money.

The most I'd give Bogut is a 6 year 60 million dollar deal, anything more I would let him walk or trade him for an impact player.

Well Boguts a Center (hard to find good ones) and also plays good defense (mo doesn't do that at all).

So I'd have to say he's worth a sizable chunk more than Mo, but I'd hope to lock up bogut for a 5 or 6 year deal, around 10 or 11 million. However, he can probably get even more.

Hopefully the bucks realize the mess they are getting in and break up that backcourt, bring in some team guys, and hopefully lock up bogut over the offseason so him and Yi can lead the bucks to a bright future.

[Fort Minor]

Other big men you might consider to be "overpaid":

Curry's making around $10 mil a year
Ben Wallace makes an average of $15 mil a year
Ilgauskas makes around $10.5 mil a year
JO makes around $19 mil a year
Troy Murphy makes $10 mil a year
Dampier makes around $11 mil a year
Kwame Brown is make $9 mil this year
Chandler makes around $11 mil a year
Martin makes around $14 mil a year
Nene makes around $10 mil a year
LaFrentz is still getting over $10 mil a year somehow
Adonal Foyle is making $9 mil this year
Brad Miller makes $10 mil a year

I'm not advocating overpaying for players we need to keep, but the bottom line is you're not getting Bogut for $8 mil a year, period. He's getting, at the very least, 10 mil a year somewhere.

Someone said an extension similar to what Kaman got would be appropriate and I agree with that completely.