Andrew Bogut’s Days May Be Numbered in a Mavericks Uniform

The Dallas Mavericks have reportedly said that they will be willing to shop Andrew Bogut if the time comes where his trade value is higher than his value to the team.

The Mavs picked up the pieces from their predictable free agency strikeout this past offseason, when they snatched Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut from the Golden State Warriors. Now, sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference at 4-15, the Mavs have to begin evaluating their roster and determining if there is anything they can get in return for anybody that likely won’t be on the team next season.

According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the Mavs may be willing to shop the seven-footer if their hopes of a playoff spot are out of reach.

McMahon reported that “Mavs management recognizes that Bogut has significant value in the trade market as a proven championship-caliber complimentary piece in a contract year and could become motivated to move him if and when it becomes clear that the Mavs have no hope of making the playoffs this season.”

MacMahon’s report signals that the Mavs front office may not be quite as optimistic as their owner. Mark Cuban pointed out after the Mavs’ thirteenth loss in fifteen games that his team was only five and a half games out of a playoff spot with 67 games remaining on the schedule.

While that sounds great, the Mavs are dead last in the Western Conference and will likely not hesitate to deal the Australian center if the right deal comes their way.

The Mavs could receive a first round pick for the big man if he is dealt. The question is, who would be willing to part with a coveted number one? The Boston Celtics have all the draft picks in the world following the Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce trades.

Boston has lacked a true starting center who can protect the rim and rebound the ball ever since Kevin Garnett‘s departure. While Al Horford certainly helps in the help-defense category, the C’s could use a larger presence in the middle to help defend against other Eastern Conference centers such as Hassan Whiteside and Jonas Valanciunas.

Another option for Andrew Bogut could be a reunion with the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks drafted Bogut with the first overall pick of the 2005 draft after an amazing college career at Utah. The massive checks being written to Greg Monroe are becoming increasingly not worth it, and Bogut alongside the Greek Freak would pose a terrifying defensive threat to any team’s attack.

Next: Andrew Bogut Injured, MRI Set for Tuesday

As the Mavs continue on this season, each loss will improve the chances that they deal their starting center for a draft choice in the upcoming draft, while each win may keep the team just hopeful enough to hang on to the Aussie. Nonetheless, if the mavs continue their downward trajectory, they might as well pull the trigger if the right deal comes their way.