Bogans Excused Indefinitely

[Brickowski]

According to ESPN via RealGM:

"The Boston Celtics announced Tuesday that guard Keith Bogans has been excused for the team indefinitely due to personal reasons.Bogans was with the team for Monday's loss to the Houston Rockets, but was not at practice on Tuesday. Bogans had embraced being a leader with the Celtics, but also griped about limited playing time recently.The 33-year-old guard, a veteran of nine teams in 11 NBA seasons, remains under contract with the Celtics. Bogans, who was part of the Celtics-Nets summer blockbuster, is earning $5.1 million, but the final two years of his deal are nonguaranteed. - See more at: http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1297480#sthash.ToV5ccOA.dpuf"

 

[Jer]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/keith-bogans-details-frustrating-life-well-compensated-trade-155159192--nba.html
 

 
 
“It’s tough,” Bogans said. “Game days are my toughest days. At least I’ll get in at practice. I can run up and down the court, play a little bit at practice. But, come on, you’ve been playing basketball for 10 years and just this year they just tell you you’re not playing? I’ve never not played in this league before. This is the first time ever. And it’s not like I’ve wandered into not playing. I’ve just not had the opportunity from day one. … I don’t mind cheering for my teammates. I love those guys, a great group of young guys. I love supporting them and cheering for them, but the fact that I’m not going to get in the game is tough.”

 
I get where he's coming from. I'm sure he's thrilled with the cash, but he didn't get this far without having a competitive fire.
 
It makes sense to let him take some time off. I wonder how long they can do that.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

The guy got the biggest gift of his life with that deal...and now he's got issues? $5M for 12 points...

 
As Jer says, he wouldn't be a 33 year old swing man making that money in the Association if the guy didn't care.  He may well be a marginal player but guys like him, Wallace and Brooks were dealt a shitty hand in coming to Boston.  They may not be superstars or even good NBA players but they want to play and they want to win.  The frustration is understandable even if his behavior isn't admirable.  
 
Also, not picking on you but using points to cite a the relative value of a player (to his contract or to others) is kind of useless. 

 

[radsoxfan]

If Bogans had any viable NBA skill left whatsoever, I might feel bad for him.
 
As it is, the guy has been washed up for years, and shouldn't even have an NBA roster spot.  On a team in China, Europe, or the D-league he'd be just another random player. He's being paid over 5M even though he sucks, solely because that salary was needed to complete the Nets trade based on NBA trade rules.  
 
In my opinion, Bogans should STFU, sit on the bench, and thank god every day that he was in the right place at the right time.  He should be making 50K this year.

 

[Jer]

In my opinion, Bogans should STFU, sit on the bench, and thank god every day that he was in the right place at the right time.  He should be making 50K this year.

 
Except that's not really how humans work. We have egos.
 
Obviously there are billions of people that would be happy to trade places with him, but they wouldn't have his "story". He's fighting against a professional athlete's psyche.
 
This happens all the time in sports. It ranks very low among human tragedies. However, I can muster sympathy for a guy that's miserable in a situation like this. Of course I've also been miserable in a high paying and unfulfilling job.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

If Bogans had any viable NBA skill left whatsoever, I might feel bad for him.
 
As it is, the guy has been washed up for years, and shouldn't even have an NBA roster spot.  On a team in China, Europe, or the D-league he'd be just another random player. He's being paid over 5M even though he sucks, solely because that salary was needed to complete the Nets trade based on NBA trade rules.  
 
In my opinion, Bogans should STFU, sit on the bench, and thank god every day that he was in the right place at the right time.  He should be making 50K this year.

 
He should but in his mind, he isn't washed up.   He is a marginal NBA player but someone who had some small success in the past and parlayed it into a contract.  Now he wants to actually earn his money so while his behavior seems selfish, its actually understandable and even respectable (on some level) versus the guys who simply want to "keep getting them checks..."

 

[radsoxfan]

I understand people have egos, and I understand money isn't everything. Inside Bogans' brain, I'm sure this is all totally unfair.
 
If Bogans was a 5M a year player who just got stuck in a bad situation a rebuilding team because of a trade, I would have some sympathy.  Heck, if he was a viable NBA player worth 2M (but making 5M) a year I would understand. Money isnt everything.  But the guy is totally washed up, and wouldn't be getting playing time for anyone in the NBA. 
 
Bogans is making 100X more money than he deserves this year to do absolutely nothing but show up. I don't have sympathy for him just because he doesn't have the self awareness to realize it. 
 
If he is truly upset he isn't getting to play 15+ minutes a night, he should retire from the NBA, forfeit his salary, and join a local rec league. 

 

[wutang112878]

He just doesnt get it, he needs some perspective.  Most NBA careers are over at 33, he is no longer an athlete or even an average player so he is lucky to be playing.  To facilitate the KG/PP trade he was given this contract to make the #s work, he was given a gift for no particular reason other than the fact the Nets had his rights and they needed to send a body and salary to Boston.  Danny has gone on record saying he is pretty honest with players, I am rather confident that between Danny and his agent Bogans understands why he got the contract he did, it was a complete gift. 
 
If you take your wife out to dinner and give her diamond earrings she is a high maintenance, bathshit crazy lunatic if she complains about the restaurant you took her too.  Thats basically what Bogans is doing.

 

[kenneycb]

I understand people have egos, and I understand money isn't everything. Inside Bogans' brain, I'm sure this is all totally unfair.
 
If Bogans was a 5M a year player who just got stuck in a bad situation a rebuilding team because of a trade, I would have some sympathy.  Heck, if he was a viable NBA player worth 2M (but making 5M) a year I would understand. Money isnt everything.  But the guy is totally washed up, and wouldn't be getting playing time for anyone in the NBA. 
 
Bogans is making 100X more money than he deserves this year to do absolutely nothing but show up. I don't have sympathy for him just because he doesn't have the self awareness to realize it. 
 
If he is truly upset he isn't getting to play 15+ minutes a night, he should retire from the NBA, forfeit his salary, and join a local rec league. 

That's basically what he's doing minus the rec league part.

 

[Jer]

He just doesnt get it, he needs some perspective.  Most NBA careers are over at 33, he is no longer an athlete or even an average player so he is lucky to be playing.  To facilitate the KG/PP trade he was given this contract to make the #s work, he was given a gift for no particular reason other than the fact the Nets had his rights and they needed to send a body and salary to Boston.  Danny has gone on record saying he is pretty honest with players, I am rather confident that between Danny and his agent Bogans understands why he got the contract he did, it was a complete gift. 
 
If you take your wife out to dinner and give her diamond earrings she is a high maintenance, bathshit crazy lunatic if she complains about the restaurant you took her too.  Thats basically what Bogans is doing.

 
The wife analogy doesn't parallel this situation enough to be relevant. You'd have to twist it into something like her being a food critic and making her eat McDonalds every week for a year if she wanted the diamond earrings. Even then, there's not much to be learned from it.
 
I appreciate the "get some perspective" sentiment. I'm sure Bogans is rationally telling himself the same thing, but it's very difficult to rewire your brain.
 
I would respect him a ton if he just walked away. That is definitely the right move if he finds this so intolerable. Of course if the Celtics let him take an extended leave-of-absence then he's getting the best of both worlds.
 
From Danny/Brad's perspective it's a good idea to separate the negative energy from practice and bench. I just hope they can make it stick for the rest of the season. No clue if that's allowed.

 

[Devizier]

I don't see what the big deal is. The guy is a professional basketball player. Deep down he might have realized what his contract *really* was for, but a lot of these guys are competitors. He's probably looking at the team, sees that it sucks, and wonders why he isn't getting a chance to play ball. He's probably in game shape so it sucks to rack up DNP-CDs. No amount of money changes that -- just look at what happens when high salaried vets start losing playing time. Maybe he shouldn't complain, but this is human nature we're talking about.

 

[wutang112878]

 
The wife analogy doesn't parallel this situation enough to be relevant. You'd have to twist it into something like her being a food critic and making her eat McDonalds every week for a year if she wanted the diamond earrings. Even then, there's not much to be learned from it.
 
I appreciate the "get some perspective" sentiment. I'm sure Bogans is rationally telling himself the same thing, but it's very difficult to rewire your brain.
 

 
Wife analogy aside, every player (even stars and fading stars) needs to understand they cant be more trouble than they are worth, period end of story.  Bogans simply isnt worth that much, never really was, and now he is worth even less.  So its not a complete rewire, its just that he has to revisit how much he is really worth

 

[radsoxfan]

That's basically what he's doing minus the rec league part.

I guess I missed the part where he forfeited his salary this year.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Comparing professional athletes to any other job is not particularly relevant. Not many other jobs are monopolized by one company, and franchises thereof.
If I signed a contract to work at a place, and they had me not working on what I expected, I could quit my job and sign a contract with a competitor, that is basically impossible for professional athletes. (yes he could go to Europe or something, but that isn't a real parallel)

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Here are Bogans' salaries since being in the league:
 
2004: 366,931
2005: 620,046
2006: 869,373
2007: 2,510,000
2008: 2,440,000
2009: 2,565,000
2010: 1,033,042
2011: 1,600,000
2012: 848,266
2013: 1,229,225
2014: 5,058,198
 
He doubled his highest annual salary just by being in the right place at the right time. What a life.

Same thing happened with Joe Kleine the offseason after he retired to accept a broadcasting gig with the Suns. He held off filing his retirement papers then was used in a multi-player trade that earned him the highest annual salary of his career.......while he broadcasted the games.

The CBA.....it's FAN-Tastic!!!

 

[HomeRunBaker]

He just doesnt get it, he needs some perspective.  Most NBA careers are over at 33, he is no longer an athlete or even an average player so he is lucky to be playing.  To facilitate the KG/PP trade he was given this contract to make the #s work, he was given a gift for no particular reason other than the fact the Nets had his rights and they needed to send a body and salary to Boston.  Danny has gone on record saying he is pretty honest with players, I am rather confident that between Danny and his agent Bogans understands why he got the contract he did, it was a complete gift. 
 
If you take your wife out to dinner and give her diamond earrings she is a high maintenance, bathshit crazy lunatic if she complains about the restaurant you took her too.  Thats basically what Bogans is doing.

Bogans isn't the only guy in this league who doesn't get it. Look at Jordan Crawford who was gifted minutes in DC last year then went on a bitch fest once Wall returned from injury and he lost his minutes.

Ainge isn't a fool.....he knew Crawford has probably been wondering (maybe aloud) where Rondo was going to play once he returned. He's probably confused as hell as to what Curry's gonna do now that he's in town. Yes, there are NBA players this delusional.

 

[mcpickl]

 
As Jer says, he wouldn't be a 33 year old swing man making that money in the Association if the guy didn't care.  He may well be a marginal player but guys like him, Wallace and Brooks were dealt a shitty hand in coming to Boston.  They may not be superstars or even good NBA players but they want to play and they want to win.  The frustration is understandable even if his behavior isn't admirable.  
 
Also, not picking on you but using points to cite a the relative value of a player (to his contract or to others) is kind of useless. 

I'd agree on Wallace, but not Bogans. He had to agree to a sign and trade to come here, and had to know that Boston was going to go with the young guys in a rebuilding situation. He could've gone into FA to try to find a better fit for himself, for surely a much smaller salary. He chose to take the cash instead. I don't blame him for doing so, I would too, but he wasn't dealt a shitty hand. He was the dealer.

 

[kenneycb]

I guess I missed the part where he forfeited his salary this year.

You generally aren't paid when suspended. And he voluntarily got suspended.

Edit: I read excused as suspended/not working and not getting paid. If that's not the case, disregard.

 

[radsoxfan]

You generally aren't paid when suspended. And he voluntarily got suspended.

Edit: I read excused as suspended/not working and not getting paid. If that's not the case, disregard.

 
I didn't see anyone explicitly say it, but I'm pretty sure he is still getting paid.
 
If he's not, Wyc should demand that Stevens give Wallace the "Bogans Treatment" and hope like hell Wallace does the same thing. 

 

[wutang112878]

Bogans isn't the only guy in this league who doesn't get it. Look at Jordan Crawford who was gifted minutes in DC last year then went on a bitch fest once Wall returned from injury and he lost his minutes.

Ainge isn't a fool.....he knew Crawford has probably been wondering (maybe aloud) where Rondo was going to play once he returned. He's probably confused as hell as to what Curry's gonna do now that he's in town. Yes, there are NBA players this delusional.

 
There are many players are more trouble than they were worth, however before those players are generally younger and demonstrate some shred of talent.  Crawford is going to get chances, just like Ricky Davis did, because if he 'matures and gets it' his basketball talents will make him a great player.  When guys of Bogans age and talent do it, you are basically writing your own exit out of the league because there is no upside to be had.

 

[Who is Dana Williams]

With the recent injuries to the Celtics I wonder if Bogans is kicking himself in the arse for not sticking it out for a bit longer?

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

They did beat the FIRST PLACE WIZARDS last night, he should want to be part of that!

 

[radsoxfan]

No chance he is coming back, and I'm almost positive he is getting paid.
 
Right place, right time for Bogans.  He hasn't been an NBA caliber player for a couple of years (and that's being kind), and yet he needed to sign a 5+M deal to make the numbers work in the Nets trade.  
 
I found it comical that he complained about playing time (as I'm sure Danny did too), so it only made sense to tell him to stay home.  Bogans is so delusional he probably thinks the Celtics screwed him, but he basically won the lottery, even if he doesn't know it.