Dallas Mavericks: What About Bogut?

Andrew Bogut is a new player for the Dallas Mavericks and should bring some level of excitement for the fans. But with every player there are pros and cons. What are Bogut’s?

The Dallas Mavericks offseason has gone in some crazy directions this summer. What started as a hope and a wish for some top players turned into an actual possibility, as Mike Conley and Hassan Whiteside met with team officials.

When those dreams were crushed we settled for the waiting game, seeing who fell through the cracks and which veterans were going to be left for us to overpay. We also had to see where the top players were going to move, namely Kevin Durant.

As the decision to move from Oklahoma City was made by KD and Golden State won the sweepstakes, the Mavs intentions became clear. The Warriors needed to clear cap space and Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut would be the first to go.

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As we now know, both players have found a home in Dallas, filling the two most needed roster spots for a team in disarray. Barnes has taken over most of the media coverage in the deal, but not much has been said about Bogut.

Andrew Bogut was the number 1 overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft out of the University of Utah. As the reigning college player of the year, the Milwaukee Bucks felt confident getting him as the top pick.

Bogut hasn’t really panned out as a number 1 overall selection, but that’s not to say he hasn’t had a successful NBA career. An All-NBA third team selection in 2010 and a second team all defense pick in 2015 are only a few items on his résumé.

With career averages of 10.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game, Bogut can definitely be a very useful asset to the team. His injury history, on the other hand, presents a different story.

Here is a list of pros and cons to Andrew Bogut and to what he brings to this team:

PROS

-He is an elite defensive center. The Mavericks haven’t had the benefit of a strong defensive presence in the middle since Tyson Chandler and it has cost us in many ways. Bogut is a great shot blocker and an above average rebounder.

-Bogut pairs well with Dirk Nowitzki. History has shown that the Mavs work better when Dirk can pair well with the center next to him. Zaza Pachulia was good defensively and an excellent rebounder, but his presence inside was never intimidating enough. Bogut’s protection works well to keep others out of the key.

-He and Salah Mejri are a great 1-2. Andrew Bogut is definitely a starting caliber center in the league and presents his case on both ends of the court. Pair that with a young center with a high ceiling and we could have a great duo with not too much drop off. Bogut’s experience will also be a great teacher for Mejri as he gains experience.

CONS

-Bogut has an injury history. The Mavericks are familiar with injury riddled players and have been able to maximize many of them, including Tyson Chandler. But, that doesn’t make it any less concerning that the history still exists.

-He is already 31 years old. No matter what happens in the league, age will always get the better of even the best players. At 31, most players are in their prime and starting to decline, but with an injury history like Bogut’s, those years are a little more painful. He may not go down yet, but it could happen soon.

-His offense has declined. With Bogut’s skill set, this isn’t as worrisome as it may be in other situations but the fact remains that the Mavs are going to be desperate for some offense. The decine, however, does not take into effect the fact that Bogut was the number 5 option on the court offensively the last few years.

Next: How Many Points Per Game Will Harrison Barnes Average?

No matter what the case, we are excited to have Andrew Bogut on the team and can’t wait to see what he is capable of. Every player that has ever played the game has had some sort of cons with who they were or how they played but that does not mean they won’t be great. We expect great things from Bogut in the coming season.