CSN Bay Area

OAKLAND –- Marreese Speights Buckets will be taking his act back to the Warriors bench any day, perhaps as soon as Tuesday.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr acknowledged Sunday that despite the emergence of the big man, particularly on offense, Andrew Bogut is headed back to the starting lineup.

"I've already talked to Mo and Bogs about it," Kerr said after practice. "Bogs is our starting center. It's going to happen pretty soon, one way or the other."

Though Bogut has been the team's starting center since his arrival via trade in March 2012, he has since missed 105 of 226 games due to injury. Backup Festus Ezeli missed all of last season due to injury and has missed the last seven games.

Speights, normally a backup power forward, has played well enough to offset the absences of both centers. He is averaging 12.6 points per game, on 52.7 percent shooting, earning the nickname "Mo Buckets."

Speights moved into the starting lineup when Ezeli sprained his ankle Dec. 23 against the Lakers in Los Angeles. He is averaging 15.1 points as a starter.

Kerr said that Bogut, who missed 12 games with knee soreness before returning last Wednesday in a reserve role, is healthy and ready to play without restrictions. The coach implied Bogut would start against the Jazz on Tuesday in Utah.

"In the end, Bogs is cut out to be the starter and Mo is great off the bench, as a scorer," Kerr said. "It's a better role for him."

"I didn't want to do it early because Mo was playing so well and I wanted to ease Bogs back. Bogs has done a really good job and he's close to climbing back into that spot."

Speights will be the backup center, Kerr said, with forward David Lee splitting time behind Draymond Green at power forward and behind Bogut and Speights at center.