Andrew Bogut
Oct 28, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes (40) and centre Andrew Bogut (6) fight for the loose ball with Houston Rockets center Clint Capela (15) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron (via Reuters)

The Boston Celtics are trying to acquire Australian centre Andrew Bogut, who the Dallas Mavericks are open to trading ahead of February's trade deadline, according to several reports.

The Golden State Warriors traded Bogut to the Mavs during the offseason to clear cap room to sign free agent Kevin Durant. The Warriors were forced to let go off Bogut, Festus Ezeli, Marreese Speights, Leandro Barbosa and Harrison Barnes to accommodate Durant's US$26.5 million (AU$35.5 million) salary.

Besides Bogut, Barnes was the other Warriors player who made Dallas his home this summer. While Barnes, who leads the team in scoring with 20.4 points per game, is viewed as the next franchise player, Bogut is the team's temporary solution at the 5 spot and not a player the Mavs front office wish to re-sign, per reports.

Since Bogut, 32, will be an unrestricted free agent next year, it would make sense for the Mavs to shop the 7-footer to a playoff contender such as the Celtics. Bogut is due to make US$11 million (AU$14.7 million) during the final year of his contract.

The Mavericks (4-15) have the worst record in the western conference and aren't expected to make the postseason next year.

According to ESPN's Tim McMahon, the Mavs feel Bogut, who was part of the Warriors' championship team in 2015, has good trade value and could help the team acquire valuable, young assets.

"Mavs management recognizes that Bogut has significant value in the trade market as a proven championship-calibre complementary piece in a contract year and could become motivated to move him if and when it becomes clear that the Mavs have no hope of making the playoffs this season. Several league sources said the Mavs should be able to get a first-round pick from a contender for Bogut," reported McMahon.

Andrew Bogut: What can Celtics offer?

If a first-round draft pick is the Mavs' asking price for Bogut, the Celtics have no shortage of them. According to CSN New England, the Celtics are trying to form a frontcourt of Al Horford and Bogut ahead of the playoffs. The report indicated that the Celtics could be winning to trade Amir Johnson and a first-round draft pick for the Australian.

"For the Celtics, giving up Johnson and a future first-round pick is a small price to pay for a physical, defensive-minded rebounder who would provide a different brand of rim protection than Johnson who like Bogut, will also be a free agent this summer.

"While no deal is imminent, but both sides would appear to come out getting great value if this deal were to completed prior to the February trade deadline."

The Celtics have begun the new season with a 12-8 record. They are currently the third seed in the eastern conference. Prior to the season, many analysts expected them to finish as the No.2 seed and as a legitimate threat to NBA champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Could Andrew Bogut help them take the next step?

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