Andrew Bogut Says Warriors Almost Traded Stephen Curry for Him Instead of Monta Ellis

Former NBA center Andrew Bogut revealed that the Golden State Warriors nearly traded Stephen Curry for him in 2012 before ultimately swapping shooting guard Monta Ellis instead.

"They were like, 'Yeah, it was either Monta or Steph, and we—the team—decided to go with Monta based on health,'" Bogut said on the House of Strauss podcast, via HoopsHype (1:05:30 mark). "So I was like, 'Alright…' But then you look at hindsight: the Warriors made this genius move and freed up for Steph Curry, and the whole narrative that followed. It could have easily gone the other way. It’s a sliding door moment. They’ll deny it, but I know it for a fact."

In March 2012, the Warriors traded for Bogut and Stephen Jackson while sending the Milwaukee Bucks a package headlined by Ellis in return.

Ellis was Golden State's leading scorer prior to the deal, averaging 21.9 points per game in 37 appearances before the trade.

Curry was in his third NBA season at the time. He showed promised throughout his first two years in the league but appeared in just 26 games during his 2011-12 campaign due to ankle issues, averaging 14.7 points and 5.3 assists per game on 49.0/45.5/80.9 shooting splits.

The choice paid off at the time and looks even better in hindsight. The Warriors went from a 23-43 record during their 2011-12 season to a 47-35 finish for their 2012-13 campaign.

Ellis' absence created more backcourt scoring opportunities for Curry, while Bogut operated as an imposing defensive presence in the paint. Both players were key contributors on Golden State's championship-winning team in 2015, with Curry going on to win four total titles as a member of the organization.

While the two-time MVP has become a Warriors franchise icon, he was nearly traded to the Bucks before he blossomed into a superstar.