Andrew Bogut #12 of the Golden State Warriors warms up prior to Game 4 of the 2016 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on June 10, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP
Australian center Andrew Bogut was traded Thursday by the Golden State Warriors to the Dallas Mavericks, completing the deal that gave the reigning Western Conference champions salary-cap room to sign Kevin Durant.
Both clubs will receive future second-round draft picks as part of the deal, which shed Golden State of Bogut’s $11 million, expiring contract to allow for the blockbuster signing of Durant, the former Oklahoma City star.
“Andrew played a vital role in our success as a team the last several seasons,” said Warriors general manager Bob Myers.
“His unique skill set on both ends of the floor enabled our team, and his teammates in particular, to thrive. We thank him for his contributions and wish him the best of luck in Dallas.”
Bogut, 31, helped the Warriors capture their first NBA title in 40 years in 2015 and sparked a run to a record 73 regular-season victories this past season, when Golden State fell one game shy of defending their title, losing to Cleveland in the NBA Finals after Bogut suffered a series-ending left knee injury in game five.
The Aussie appeared in 236 regular-season games over four seasons, all but six as a starter, averaging 6.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.71 blocked shots. Last season he averaged 5.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.63 blocks over 70 games.
Bogut, the top overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, has spent 11 NBA seasons with Milwaukee and Golden State with career averages of 10.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.63 blocks.
The Mavericks also landed ex-Warrior Harrison Barnes after Golden State renounced his rights, signing him to a four-year deal worth more than $90 million.
Both Barnes and Bogut will play alongside German standout Dirk Nowitzki, who agreed to a deal for his 19th season in Dallas.
The Warriors have also hired former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown as an assistant to coach Steve Kerr.
Brown, the 2009 NBA Coach of the Year who also guided the Los Angeles Lakers for a season, replaces Luke Walton, who left to become the new coach of the Lakers.