The Golden State Warriors are known for their small ball. Yes I know, but of an understatement, but we also got to realise that they aren’t bad up top. Andrew Bogut and emerging big Festus Ezeli, that’s not bad a 1-2 punch there.
But now the Warriors are facing a problem that they probably won’t face until the 2016 offseason, where they have to decide on Festus Ezeli and whether to give him a new contract deal. (Ezeli is going to be a restricted free agent in the summer)
Personally I think they would be silly to let Ezeli walk. He’s young, he’s showing great potential when given substantial minutes. It’s a no brainer. And if these sets of quotes by Andrew Bogut mean anything, he thinks the Warriors would be dumb to let him walk as well.
“Look, you never know (what will happen). You never take any of these days or seasons for granted. Things can change in a heartbeat. But I’m enjoying this moment. I didn’t even know if I’d be playing at this point in my career, to be honest, with some of the issues I’ve had. The two falls that I’ve had, with the ankle and the elbow, I didn’t think I’d get to 11 years to be quite honest. And I feel very, very good…Everything else will take care of itself.
“Festus is eventually going to be a full-time starter in this league. It’s just a matter of time, whether it’s after I’m gone or whether he goes to another team. Who knows? But he has the opportunity to do that, and he has the talent and the work ethic to do it. So I think I have another couple of years here, and I’ll continue to be a professional whatever direction they go and see what happens. But right now, I’m enjoying obviously being a starter on this team and I’m hoping to milk that for as long as they pay me (laughs).
“Look, we’ll definitely have the discussion (with management this summer about a possible extension for Bogut). There’s no doubt about it. I’m not a greedy guy…I know at what point in my career I am, and I definitely want some stability and to remain in the same place if I can. Obviously this is a great team we have going, and I want to remain here. There’s no doubt about that. But we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. I’d love to stay. I’d love to never be a free agent…I’m happy to stay here if it’s good for both parties, and we’ll see where we’re at.”
He thinks Ezeli will be a starter in this league, I think that too. I repeat, it’s a no brainer. Lock them both down, Bogut will regress and retire on one of the greatest teams in NBA history, Ezeli with thrive and become a potentially elite big, giving the Warriors yet another dimension to their already stacked repertoire.
How am I not a GM yet?
