The Golden State Warriors need to clear some cap space to sign Kevin Durant and the Dallas Mavericks need a starting center to help salvage this offseason. That's how you find yourself a trade partner in an instant during a free agency frenzy. ESPN's Marc Stein is reporting the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks have agreed to a trade that will have the Mavs absorb Bogut's $11 million contract for next season.
This accomplishes giving the Mavs a starting center and the Warriors the room to grab Durant on the reported two-year, $54.3 million contract. The deal cannot be completed until the moratorium is over.
Dallas and Golden State have agreed to an Andrew Bogut trade, sources say
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 4, 2016
The trade to send Bogut into Dallas salary cap space, sources said, can't be officially completed until the league moratorium ends July 7
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 4, 2016
So why would the Mavericks help the Warriors create this super team by taking on Bogut's deal? The Mavs are trying to salvage their offseason in which they struck out on several big free agents. They couldn't get Hassan Whiteside to leave the Miami Heat. Targets Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons ended up agreeing to play for the Memphis Grizzlies instead of going to Dallas. After not being able to fully reel in DeAndre Jordan last year, the Mavs still have a very glaring hole at the center position.
Grabbing Bogut at least temporarily helps that. You have to worry about his health and his possible decline as a player. The Warriors were reportedly frustrated with his play in the Finals when he couldn't keep Tristan Thompson from dominating the boards. But the Mavs need a quality veteran and when Bogut is on the court, he can be a quality veteran. He's still a very good rim protector, a good passer, and a fantastic screen-setter, even if they're not always legal.
You don't want to necessarily help the Warriors, but the Mavs are focused on remaining a playoff team. This possibly helps that.
