Bogut may get big bonus for tough play
NEW ORLEANS — Warriors center Andrew Bogut played more than 65 regularseason games and is expected to make one of the NBA’s All-Defensive teams this month.
If that happens, Bogut will get a bonus of 15 percent of his salary — more than $1.9 million. The bonus will be added to the three-year, $36 million extension he signed in October 2013.
The bonus would count against the Warriors’ salary cap, but team officials say it wouldn’t push the number into the luxury tax.
Bogut isn’t really into numbers, and he certainly isn’t into the NBA image.
“Every once in a while, I get dunked on because I try to block shots, but that stuff happens,” Bogut said. “I don’t really care. With Instagram and Vine and all of the crap, I really don’t give a s—. It’s part of my job to get dunked on every now and then. I’d rather make sure I’m trying to block the shots and protect the rim than ... move out of the way just because I don’t want people laughing at me.”
Back in the fold: Power forward David Lee was active for Saturday’s Game 4 and available in an emergency situation (which didn’t arise) after missing the first three playoff games with a sore lower back.
Lee participated in a three-on-three scrimmage after Friday’s practice and responded well Saturday — a far cry from where he was five or six days ago, when his back was locking up and spasming.
Memphis played Portland late Saturday with a chance to take a 3-0 lead in the bestof-seven, first-round series. The Grizzlies start a tough front line with Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph and often stay big with reserve center Kosta Koufos, which could lead to playing time for Lee.
“That’ll be up to Coach, as it has been all year long,” Lee said. “But I know a team like Memphis is one I’ve played well against. It’s a team that plays big, so we’re going to need every big on the roster ready to go. When given the chance, I’m going to go out there and do what I do. I’m looking forward to that.”
The two-time All-Star has kept a good attitude all season, despite seeing his starting role and customary minutes taken.
“It’s my teammates and the coaching staff,” Lee said. “Although sometimes I haven’t gotten the minutes that I’ve wanted, Coach ( Steve) Kerr and the rest of the staff have been really cool about being up front about it. As a pro, it’s my job to stay ready. We’re playing for each other. This isn’t about me. It’s about our team as a whole.”
Iguodala’s importance: Mike Dunleavy, who played 11 NBA seasons and coached for 17 before starting a show on SiriusXM Radio, said the Warriors should make it to the Western Conference finals without much trouble.
Dunleavy shares that opinion with many experts, but not many of them give Dunleavy’s reasoning: Andre Iguodala.
“His real value is that he can play point forward and release ( Stephen) Curry off the ball,” Dunleavy said in a phone interview. “Curry and ( Klay) Thompson can run off screens and get cracked free. Iguodala is a guy who can really make plays.”