Agent says Bucks' Bogut will sign 5-year, $72.5M extension

[Suns_fan69]

From the WTF?!? files:

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut will sign a five-year, $72.5 million extension later this week, his agent said Wednesday.

Bogut, the top overall pick in the 2005 draft, was expected to sign the extension Friday, agent David Bauman said.

The agreement was first reported Wednesday by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on its Web site.

Bucks spokesman Dan Smyczek also confirmed Wednesday that there was an agreement on a deal.

"He's thrilled," Bauman told The Associated Press. "He feels like Milwaukee really stepped up and demonstrated to him he's a valued member of this team."

The signing should also silence critics who feel the team hasn't shown a commitment to winning, Bauman said. The hiring of Scott Skiles as coach and the trade for Richard Jefferson demonstrated to Bogut that the team was making a push to be competitive.

"These moves show Andrew this team is committed to winning now," Bauman said.

The extension does not affect the nearly $7 million Bogut is owed for the upcoming season, the final year of his rookie contract.

Despite the Bucks' struggles in the past two seasons, Bogut indicated he wanted to stay with the team.

He played in 78 games last season, averaging 14.3 points and 9.8 rebounds.

Bogut is expected to begin practicing with the Australia Olympic team on Tuesday. Bauman said the center hoped to get an extension completed before then, but he wasn't using that date as a deadline for a deal.

Wednesday was the first day for NBA free agents and players seeking extensions to sign contracts.

Am I the only one thinking this is outrageously expensive for AB?

 

[S_Nash]

No.

72 Million? Man, that'll buy him a few VB stubbies.

Keep an eye on him in the olympics though. He's got great skills for his size. And I'd love him next to Amare.

Just not $72 Million worth

 

[WuRaider]

Its part of their 2012 plan. They're going to use his expiring deal and net a major player.

 

[Bufalay]

14 and 10. That's worthy of max scrilla right Andrew Bynum?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

scrilla, I havent heard that in forever. Lets bring it back!

 

[nathan]

Boris Diaw @ 5 yrs. $45M
or
Andrew Bogut @ 5 yrs. $72.5


I guess I'd rather have Bogut, but that is a bad enough contract that I had to think about it for a second.

 

[asudevil83]

hello folks....i'd like to introduce you to this year's Keith Van Horn.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I guess Boris shouldnt be as hard to trade as we thought. His deal is beginning to look downright reasonable

 

[elindholm]

Bogut is a legitimate starting center with balanced offensive skills who has a good health record, has gotten better every year, and is still only 23. This contract is market value.

 

[Irish]

Bogut is a legitimate starting center with balanced offensive skills who has a good health record, has gotten better every year, and is still only 23. This contract is market value.

Why are people shocked every time an average seven footer gets an enormous contract or at least expects one? Even some pretty awful rall guys seem able to stay in the league. Seriously, how is Calvin Booth still playing?

It seems like 6'10" in socks is a cut off point for this behavior. Diaw is only6'8"; so he doesn't qualify. Skinner is 6'9" and not a shooter. There is such a premium placed on size that it makes guys under the threshold relatively inexpensive.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Bogut is a legitimate starting center with balanced offensive skills who has a good health record, has gotten better every year, and is still only 23. This contract is market value.

agreed. young, average sized center with pretty good offensive skillset and averages 10 rebounds/game. for the majority of the suns' organization's existence they would have killed for a player like this.

 

[elindholm]

for the majority of the suns' organization's existence they would have killed for a player like this.

Actually I would say that's for their entire existence. Bogut is better than any true center the Suns have ever had, including the current O'Neal.

 

[CardinalsFan11]

I'm not really shocked that Bogut got 72M, I'm more surprised that he got it from the Bucks. In past years they've been reluctant to spend money, but they seem to be coming around; with the trade for Jefferson and the extension they signed Redd to a few years back.

It'll be interesting to see how Bogut handles Skiles this season, hopefully he fits the system because he's going to be there for a while.

 

[scXfreakX]

Bogut doesn't deserve this contract. I can't believe the Bucks are paying this much. Wow!

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Amare made him look like a budding allstar when we played them...

 

[scXfreakX]

Still, 72M is a humongous amount of money for a guy like Bogut. Brand is getting 79M. I think Brand is a much better player. But hey, hopefully the Bucks can get good production from Bogut.

 

[Irish]

Still, 72M is a humongous amount of money for a guy like Bogut. Brand is getting 79M. I think Brand is a much better player. But hey, hopefully the Bucks can get good production from Bogut.

I'm hearing $82 million on Brand; but that was only limited by the amount of money available. GS offered more.

 

[mathbzh]

I didn't so many of his games to be honest and I don't know how good he really is.
But I am not shocked with that contract. It is a bit too high for his production but Bogut is still improving his game, is big, as an offensive game (not so common among centers these days), he is also a rather good passer and shotblocker.

I also believe the Bucks does not risk much with this contract. They are a bad team. They can risk building arround Bogut, at worst they will still be a bad team.

 

[jandaman]

Why are people shocked every time an average seven footer gets an enormous contract or at least expects one? Even some pretty awful rall guys seem able to stay in the league. Seriously, how is Calvin Booth still playing?

It seems like 6'10" in socks is a cut off point for this behavior. Diaw is only6'8"; so he doesn't qualify. Skinner is 6'9" and not a shooter. There is such a premium placed on size that it makes guys under the threshold relatively inexpensive.

The thing is, Bogut isnt average at all.
Some here just don't appreciate his game. Bogut is a legit starting center as stated before.

He is young, has shown he can be a reliable big man in both ends. He didnt explode like Kaman did last season, but Bogut is even smarter than Kaman. Right now I'd rank Bogut a level behind Kaman, but expect him to be that legit 16~18ppg, 10rpg 2bpg big man. And THAT is definitely worthy of the contract.
Not to mention, he has the swagger, he might be labeled soft because he is caucasian but he has fire in him.

I can almost guarantee he'd be a 20ppg a game scorer if he was the main option... Bucks need to trade the two ball hogs in that team.