Why OKC Thunder should seize opportunity to sign Andrew Bogut as backup center

Supporting Steven Adams

All season long, OKC Thunder fans have shuddered at the possibility of a Steven Adams injury or if he gets in foul trouble. The truth is without Adams in the fray, OKC are vulnerable inside. Opposing teams will rip the Thunder on the boards, bully OKC’s forwards down low and get into the paint at will. OKC can’t go into the playoffs with one true big.  When the game slows and becomes more physical, the Thunder are playing with fire.

As currently constructed, Adams is supported by rookie Dakari Johnson and veteran Nick Collison. Johnson is raw and needs more time to develop. He is a throwback big with a decent offensive game but finds it difficult to defend the pick and roll. Collison is a savvy vet but is 37 years old. He is good for spot minutes but its a tall task for a player on the backend of his career.

Bogut isn’t much younger than Collison. However, he is seven feet tall and a legitimate center. Having at least one big body in the game suits OKC down to the ground. The Thunder have tried to play Patrick Patterson at the five and hybrid forwards around him but to mixed results.

Bogut is a  big body who screens, opens up lanes, plus opposing guards must work harder to go through picks and teams are less likely to attack the paint. Having a player similar in size to Adams allows OKC to attack the offensive glass and bully down low.

While his numbers this season are futile in a vacuum, he does enough to allow Adams to sit for 10-15 minutes per game.