Come Laugh at Me: What's Next for the Warriors?
by pree on Jul 2, 2008 3:37 PM PDT
126 comments
Wrote this column earlier this morning before all the Elton Brand hub bub, but I don't think there really is all that much to that talk.
Why will you laugh? Because I think the Warriors should go after Marko Jaric. Yea, I said it (okay .. he comes with Warrick and Crittenton).
My premise is pretty simple: I don't think the Warriors can go out and find someone to spend their money on this crop of free agents and really find all that much impact. As much as I like Josh Smith, I've been told and there are so many reports out there that the Hawks will just match any offer for him (or he'll go ahead and go to the 76ers to PAIR him with Iguodala - they're not letting him go, either).
So who's left? Is Carlos Arroyo or Sebastian Telfair REALLY an option? It's time to cash in the Al Harrington chip - go after Crittenton and lock up a future lineup of Critt - Ellis - Randolph - Wright - Biedrins while keeping real flexibilty under the cap by signing a few guys to short deals.
In any case, in the column I look at all the options I think the Warriors plausibly have. It's a bit long, but I hope you enjoy it.
This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!
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thanks for your stuff as always…. i hope that this stays on the main screen long enough for people to enjoy
by Nellieball on Jul 2, 2008 3:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
If you want it to stay up longer, you should 'rec' it.
Unless you already have.
"Monta is the MAN." -Bob Fitzgerald
by WarriorForLife on Jul 2, 2008 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Marko Jaric
also comes with Adriana Lima these days.
by Gob on Jul 2, 2008 3:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I think Ramon Sessions of the Bucks would be a great fit if the Dubs could pull that off. He would be top 5 in assists playin NelliStyle
by TonyDelk on Jul 2, 2008 3:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Man
Loved the kid coming out of Nevada – great size, good handles, nice vision ..
But here’s the thing: the Bucks paid Bell AND Williams rather than let Sessions play .. why aren’t they sold on him? It bugs me .. I like him, but we’ll have to see him as a back up rather than a starter.
by pree on Jul 2, 2008 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s a little bothersome, but no one has really accused the Bucks of making fantastic decisions. According to the Wins Produced model, Sessions was very productive in his limited PT. It’s easy to see why. His turnovers were low relative to assists and he had a mind for the ball, rebounding above average for his position. His net +/- suggests that he wasn’t a burden on the team when he was in. He shot the ball from long range very well. I’d consider him a good gamble if he’s available.
Another intriguing possibility is Chris Quinn, who is a restricted FA for Miami. Similarly, Miami played somewhat better with him than without him. He’s young and shot well from outside. His assist numbers don’t stand out, but his turnovers were real low for a point guard. I wonder how playing in Wade’s shadows affects both, as Wade tends to be a primary ball handler much of the time. It looks like Quinn spent about half his time on the court in lineups with Wade.
Neither should be expected to be stars, though Sessions’ limited time really was considerably above average. Both put up better limited numbers than Watson however.
Beyond that, where do things go? A combo guard like Delonte West? Cleveland QA’d him. He’s got a track record of being strictly adequate, maybe a bit more. He was OK in Cleveland and had been OK in Boston. He’s been moved twice in 4 years. People don’t seem to love him, but don’t seem to hate him.
by jae on Jul 8, 2008 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
-1
it takes two seconds to click on it
"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006
by flipgatey3 on Jul 3, 2008 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Felton
Since you mention Felton in the first part of your article, I wonder if we can somehow turn the Al Harrington chip into Felton and Wallace? Especially since I read elsewhere that Jordan the GM has sourced on Wallace and wants to move him.
The Jaric deal does seem interesting, if only to get a couple big guards that might work someone in tandem with Ellis. We should keep doing that and stock up on undersized 2 guards to back up Ellis as well. :)
by Hac Man on Jul 2, 2008 4:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It's possible
But if I was Jordan/Huggins, I wouldn’t think that Harrington in the front court is an upgrade over Wallace, especially if it means I’m losing my lottery pick UNC PG as well. Everyone loves Gerald Wallace, but the Bobcats aren’t using him right at the power forward spot – he needs to be a three and they need to stop messing around with that.
The Bobcats have arguably had the worst coaching situation in the league since their inception .. LB will make this team better, but he just needs a few more horses. I think this lineup would do well in the East .. well enough for a playoff spot, I think ..
Augustin / FA Backup (Duhon?)
Richardson / Carroll
Wallace / Dudley / Morrison
Harrington / May / Davidson
Okafor / Mohammed / Hollins
by pree on Jul 2, 2008 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
sorry should have been "soured"
and I found the Yahoo blurb about this—apparently Jordan wants to move Wallace over the summer. So Harrington isn’t enough on his own, what if we threw in Randolph? Would we want a solid 2/3 (Wallace) right now over an unknown quantity 3/4 (Randolph)? Harrington is a bit of an upgrade over Wallace at least in the size department, being of more prototypical PF size. plus they seem to be pretty high on Dudley.
by Hac Man on Jul 2, 2008 7:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know
I just don’t really believe the Bobcats will move Wallace. I’m ready to stand corrected, though.
In any case, you are correct that they love them some Dudley .. I’ll have to figure out a package that works for them, but I don’t know if the Warriors necessarily have it.
by pree on Jul 2, 2008 8:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Boy you know more about the NBA than
I do but I have always been very low on Marko Jaric. maybe I have an unfounded high regard for Arroyo. Isn’t he a true point?
What about trading for heinrich? I loved Baron but I wouldn’t mind seeing a true point running this team
Where is this years Udrih? Just feeding the ball to all of these young bigs we have?
by SFzig on Jul 2, 2008 4:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
You never know
Maybe you know more than me :)
In any case, yes, Arroyo is more of a true point guard. My argument for Jaric is mostly because of his shooting ability (I’ve seen this guy REALLY knock down shots when he was with the Clippers) and his size. When you have Monta, you need a bigger guard next to him, which is why the Baron situation worked well. Arroyo is a true ball-handling guard, but he is also smallish (6-2, barely 200) and I feel like he’s inconsistent.
As a back up, though, I’d love Arroyo. Just don’t think he’s ready for the big time starting gig.
Don’t see Hinrich as a possibility .. I mentioned it in the article .. but I just don’t see why the Bulls would part with him unless they get something really nice in return. They want to move him, but there isn’t any hurry.
I think this year’s Udrih is none other than Sebastian Telfair. Kid has skills, just never had the work ethic. Maybe he’ll be inspired now that everyone has officially given up on him? I also like Fred Jones .. yea .. I’m weird.
by pree on Jul 2, 2008 4:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Have to admit I don't even know
Fred Jones
I guess with Jaric I watch Slav players more closely when they come over since my grandfather was a Croation. Jaric just never seemed to live up to my expectations.
Sebastian Telfair is interesting. Seems it is time for him to show up
by SFzig on Jul 2, 2008 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jones ..
Undersized SG with some PG skills .. very athletic .. he’s the little guy that beat J-Rich in the Slam Dunk Contest back in (I think ) 2004
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GeOaueOCCg
A nice mix .. takes a while to get to him, but he’s a fun guy to watch
by pree on Jul 2, 2008 5:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
watched Jones in his Pac-10 days
with Oregon. He never struck me as having much PG in his game, he definitely has some pure scoring skills, but I don’t think he makes a good point guard.
by Hac Man on Jul 2, 2008 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
His dunk was weak
J-rich was robbed in that contest!!!!He should had done the threw off the backboard between the leg dunk for his final ones. But, anyway he is nothing but a overated dunker.
by warriorfan4life on Jul 2, 2008 7:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fred Jones played as a PG-esque type for the Blazers
Fred Jones DOES have PG skills, and I was surprised what a willing and capable passer he was. He’s better than any PG the Knicks have right now, except for a Starbury with his head on straight (which isn’t happening, so Jones wins by default).
He is a undersized shooting guard, and his shot was completely broken when he was a Blazer, but he has fixed that since and he’s a good ballhandler and distributor. If you’re in trouble he could start, but as an athletic backup with the running Dubs, he’d do pretty well.
Fred Jones for the Warriors and no longer on the hell that is the Knicks sounds good to me!
He’d be ultra cheap to get as well.
Mortimer
by Mortimer on Jul 3, 2008 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just because Jaric is 6’7” doesn’t mean he can play defense. He’s just big and slow and all he can do it shoot.
by jakeaco on Jul 4, 2008 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like the idea but lets leave warrick out
Lets trade for Crittenton and sign both Livingston and Kwame Brown. Kwame is 26 years old and even tho he has dissapointed time and time again, he has a lot of potential and can definitely help us on the boards. Also cut CJ watson, don’t sign barnes or pietrus. Resign Buike and our lineup looks like
PG: Jaric/Crittenton/Livingston
SG: Monta/Bellinelli
SF: SJAX/Buike/AR
PF:Wright/Henrix
C: Biedrins/K. Brown
Not that good, but a lot of potential.
Unless we somehow sign Brand, then I say we trade Al for Artest and have
PG: Monta
SG:SJAX
SF: Artest
PF: Brand
C: Beans
by scwarrior24 on Jul 2, 2008 4:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'd just trade for Warrick
Because of the depth he adds. It’s a free flyer on a guy for one year and he gives them another option off the bench. He can play the 3 or 4 and has a developing jumper. I kinda like what he can bring and if he doesn’t bring it, slide him to the end of the bench and play Hendrix. No issues for me.
As far as Kwame goes .. I’ve interviewed that guy so many times to figure out what his deal is .. loads of potential, just never panned out for him. Man .. the dude is a beast as far as athleticism goes and he hasn’t been healthy for a while. I hope someone gives him a chance; he’s a quiet guy and I just feel bad for him.
by pree on Jul 2, 2008 4:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
We need another star
Or else we’re gonna get eaten alive. At this point we would do well to add a big name guy and sign(or trade) for a promising point. Just an opinion…
by Travis Bickle on Jul 3, 2008 5:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great article Pree.. as usual!
I would love to potentially get cute and trade Harrington for Williams and Villanueva. Villanueva is basically Harrington Jr with more upside and Williams is… a really good point guard with a long term contract. I would love to see both come in… espcially at the expense of Al Harrington. I wonder if the Bucks would really consider it though.
by Mr. Monday Night on Jul 2, 2008 5:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
disagree
I’ve watched Charlie the last few years - even tried having him on my fantasy team last year - and I can tell you one major difference: he’s lazy. Al is not lazy, Al always give 100%. He might not be playing well (esp. as center or as a bruiser 4), but he works his a$$ and you can’t fault him for that. All Chuck Newhouse does is camp at the 3 line with his knee high socks and chuck up prayers. At least Al rebounds. Mo Williams would be nice, but why would the Bucks trade him? Who’s going to fill his position?
by b.radley on Jul 2, 2008 5:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's a longshot, but
I wonder if Hammond wants to get out of that contract .. the team has two other PGs in Bell and Sessions and they could pick up one of these FAs after doing the deal. Duhon might fit in well with his old coach, Skiles, or there’s always a guy like Arroyo out there, maybe Keyon Dooling.
Ultimately, the Bucks could be
Bell / FA / Sessions
Redd / Mason
Jefferson / Alexander
Harrington / Mbah-a-Moute
Bogut / Gadzuric
Not too bad, but depth is pretty gross .. I mean .. Gadzuric?!
by pree on Jul 2, 2008 5:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well looking at the contract situation,
Williams is set up for the next five seasons, where as Harrington would be off the books the same time as Michael Redd after next season right in time for the Lebron/Wade sweepstakes… not like they would have a good chance, but hopes and dreams do live. Sure their bench isn’t deep yet, but after the trade they would have some room to bring in random bigs to fill out their roster. In any situation, I could care less how the Bucks would fare after the trade ;)
As for the the Warriors, Williams is on a long term contract, which is fairly moderate in nature given his talent level and potential production. He is a little weak defensively, and with Monta’s tendency to be weak defensively… it might make for a very big liability on the other side of the ball. Now unless Wright & Beans become remarkable weakside defenders and/or strong presences in the paint, this will be a problem
by Mr. Monday Night on Jul 2, 2008 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I never said that Villanueva was better than Harrington
I know that Harrington does work his ass off. I’ve said it multiple times on this site. I honestly love the guy and would not trade him for chicken scratch. As for Villanueva…. I had him on my fantasy squad from time to time as well. He has talent, but the situation at Milwaukee definitely took a toll on his productivity and he is a little bit of a head case. I simply said he had more upside. I would never trade Harrington for Villanueva straight up. But I would take Williams and Villanueva in a trade for Harrington. Villanueva would be a filler in the trade, a great one at that since his contract would be up at the end of next season.
by Mr. Monday Night on Jul 2, 2008 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
fair enough
i just sorta feel like newhouse is dead weight, and i’m not too interested in picking up dead weight these days. i’d rather take a guy like jaric who could more likely contribute… but i know where you’re coming from.
by b.radley on Jul 2, 2008 6:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Crittenton + Smith or others
Pree, maybe I’m missing something but if we trade Al + Draft Pick for Crittenton + Jaric + Warrick, aren’t we basically just swapping salaries (maybe eating a few mill)? Wouldn’t we still have Baron’s $$ to make another free agent play like going big for Josh or even our current attempt to sign EB? They aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive, are they?
by b.radley on Jul 2, 2008 5:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes, the Warriors would still have money
That was the point .. I like the fact that the team can fill out the roster and still keep itself under the cap. You are correct in saying the two are not mutually exclusive, I just do not believe that a big FA move is smart right now .. in all honesty, I don’t see anyone out there that is a) a realistic possibility and b) an impact player at the price that would be thrown at them.
Now, I don’t mind these offers for Smith or AB, because I think they’re good players that could work out. Just don’t see it happening on either front, y’know? I expect them to give Wright a lot of PT, so maybe spending all that money on a 4 isn’t wise.
by pree on Jul 2, 2008 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Big money for Brand (or Smith) would likely mean that they’d start shopping Wright for guard help ASAP.
I’d heard that Nellie didn’t think that Wright and Biedrins could play together. Nellie says a lot of things. I believe few of them because I think he likes talking more than he’d even admit and may even use his words to bluff. I also think that despite his enormous knowledge of the game and creative talent, Nellie can get stuck in his own plans and limit his success because he gets a notion that may not be true. But on the Wright/Biedrins front, I think he’s spot on. I checked every lineup the Warriors used last year (exhaustive search—took me more than a few days of programming to search for what I was looking for) and found that the team was significantly negative in the minutes they were on the court together and neither played as well as they did without the other on the court. It’s a small sample size, but from the looks of it, given that both played pretty well on their own, it doesn’t look like they’re ready to play together in major minutes.
by jae on Jul 2, 2008 5:39 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Good research
I agree that Wright and Biedrins have yet to learn how to play with each other, but you have to understand why.
Biedrins played with Al, Jackson, or Barnes at the 4 most of the time and they typically hung out by the three-point line or tried to take their man off the dribble. Brandon is going to be in the post, which changes the spacing and takes an adjustment on the part of both he and Biedrins.
If – and this is a big if – both of these guys learn how to hit a jumper, what you’re going to start seeing is one of them at the high post and one on the opposite low-post. The ball would go to the high post man for screens in a modified triangle offense that would rely on pick and rolls rather than back cuts. It’s definitely possible: see what the Raptors plan to do with Bosh/O’Neal as what could be.
It isn’t something that I’m sold on either, but they have the skills to make it happen.
by pree on Jul 2, 2008 5:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
sounds like Wright is headed for the high post
its been mentioned that the work he’s been putting in has been on his jumper (and even on trailing 3-pointers?), which sounds to me that he’s working a bit on his top of key, high post game.
by Hac Man on Jul 2, 2008 6:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pree, man
Great insights, as always. You’re a breath of fresh air on this site lately. I’m a little less sanguine than you on our prospects without BD, but I think your position as Warriors observer (admirer? friend? ally?) gives you a perspective a lot of the long-suffering brethren lack.
For my own peace of mind, I’m going to ignore your reality check on Iguodala (I mean, what if Philly goes after Brand or Smith?) and share your optimism about a Wright-Biedrins 4-5. :-) Weaving together a few separate posts, voilà my fantasy 2010 eight-man rotation:
Livingston
Monta
Iguodala
Childress
Randolph
Hendrix
Wright
Biedrins
= Championshipzzz1111!!!1111
Sign ^^^^ !!
by Sleepy Freud on Jul 2, 2008 7:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Humph
I will let you live in the bliss of ignorance for a while :) Not a bad rotation, though
Iggy might be available .. I just think the Sixers would like their lineup with Smith plugged into the four. Man, crazy athletes.
Hmm .. as for my position as Warriors whatever .. consider me to be the Deist .. I watch the clock run and just hope it works well :)
by pree on Jul 2, 2008 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i think smith is possible
we have more money to spend than anyone else. the question is what he’s worth. even though atlanta claims they’ll match, for practical purposes we can price them out unless they want to tie their hands going forward. and he might be worth $13MM or $14MM a year, too. i dont see him as just a 4—i think he’s a 3/4. Given that AR is a project, we’d immediately have a solid lineup (Jax could play a big 2, monta at 1) and we’d be surprisingly good on defense, even with all the running and gunning.
Coupled with a deal for a point guard like Crittenton (and BTW i think we should try to sign Livingston too; if he’s 80% he’s still worth the gamble now if we can get him for under $5MM), we’d have a fantastic young lineup.
Even if we can’t land Josh Smith, we should be willing to try—worst case we bid up his price. You might say we’d get just desserts and end up with someone else bidding up Monta, but no one else can bid much more than our high-end expectations for him anyway (~$10MM), so I think we’re fine there. Same goes for AB.
by b.radley on Jul 2, 2008 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like Smith
And like I said, he might be worth going after at the right price. I would worry if they go far above his market price, though. The Warriors would have to change some of their offensive strategy if they got him, which I’d like to see Nellie do anyway.
by pree on Jul 2, 2008 5:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
no
he is not good
"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006
by flipgatey3 on Jul 3, 2008 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im not really sold on Critt.........
But I am sold on Monta at point next year, its gonna be awesome to watch him develop into one the the elite west pgs. He was groomed for it last year and got lots of exposure, hell he brought the ball up the floor just as much as Baron did, Basically I dont see the value in getting rid of Harrington right now when he will be an expiring next year. Good call b, radley, at least harrington is gonna give us hustle and veteran leadership as well. What we should really try to do is run
Ellis/Watson
Buike/Bellineli
Jackson/Randolph
Wright/Harrington
Beidrins/Hendrix
Fiil it out with Cro, and another underpaid hard working vet, and we have a pretty exciting squad with huge potential. Not to mention all the kids will get to play and develop.
The last thing we need right now is to replace either Al or Jack because they are our veterans and leaders. Too much youth would not be good, these young kids need some older brother figures to show them the ropes of playing in the NBA.
Lets save up some money and play our future at the same time, then when the time is right we can swoop on an all star in free agency. Then we will have developed our youth and poised to be playoff contenders for years instead of not knowing year to year the status of our team.
What Im saying too is i want ellis to play point, hes a trough kid with limitless potential. The only way I envision the dubs hoisting the trophy is with monta at the one not the two. So ill pass on Critt and Williams and just roll with CJ as backup
by bigshotbob05 on Jul 2, 2008 5:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Good take
I just don’t think Ellis is going to be able to run the point consistently. I know he can “bring it up”, but the team needs someone that can distribute and set the table for others. I’m not convinced that Monta is that guy. He worked on PG skills all of last summer and I just didn’t see the growth I originally anticipated.
I think he’s a great scorer and a tremendous talent, though.
LOL the lineup you mention is basically the team they have now. I’m pretty sure most fans would be pretty angry if the Warriors came back with that lineup – they’ve got to do SOMETHING solid right now.
As for leadership, that really comes from Jackson. Al is a very indeed, but he doesn’t have the locker room presence you’d hope for. He’s a fun guy and is always smiling, but take it from someone that has been in that room a lot: he isn’t exactly a tremendous influence on the young’ns like Jack is. I’d take James Jones over Al in that department.
(plus, I think Al wants out and is sick of being used in a way that he doesn’t want to be used under Nellie)
by pree on Jul 2, 2008 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
they shouldn't do something just to do something
everyone talks about how the warriors were rebuilding for 12 yrs… but they weren’t rebuilding… they were stop-gapping themselves w/ enough veterans to not be in the cellar.
they need to not overreact and realize that losing baron means rebuilding in the truest sense. No more band aids like bimbo, mookie, speedy, mugsy, dale, starks, cummings, cliff, damp, etcetera.
getting heinrich, critt, jaric, felton, duhon, crawford, marbury, magette, warrick, fred jones, malik rose, etcetera is making the same exact mistake the W’s made the 12 yr’s in between playoff runs.
the only player even worth a look is Livingston (who is probably out of the Clipper picture). W/ the main draw being a chance for playing time in a high octane offense rather than money.
i like iguodala & josh smith’s games, but both are likely to be way, way, way overpaid and therefore a bad idea for the long term.
the 1st order of business should be to see whether the Clippers are amicable to a S/T w/ Baron like Orlando did for Rashard Lewis from the Sonics. Try to pick up a few picks at least. There are PG’s in the next draft.
by the evil monkey on Jul 3, 2008 9:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
S/T not possible
The Clippers have the cap space and the commitment from Baron to make his contract work.
by Mr. Monday Night on Jul 3, 2008 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Orlando
was under the cap when they signed Lewis as well. Seattle just got a couple draft picks and a massive Trade Exception. But S/T Baron means we have a huge exception counting against the cap, restricting our ability to sign free agents.
by racsan on Jul 3, 2008 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
not one
of those guys has been mentioned in any reliable articles as the warriors trying to get them except for Maggette and he is a decent player, i really don’t think the warriors are heading in the same direction as the 12 years before the playoffs. Mullin isn’t a genius but he isn’t retarted.
by warriorsalltheway on Jul 4, 2008 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah i know
my point was in reaction to pree’s concept that the warrior’s have to do something (based on his actual article concerning possible moves, i interpreted it to mean that the warrior’s need to make moves).
by the evil monkey on Jul 5, 2008 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
What about Duhon?
I know the Knicks are after Duhon, but I like him and he is unrestricted. I also wonder if there is a team out there who really wants Al. That would help us with the leverage issue.
By the way, Pree, count me in the group who deeply appreciate your posting and writing. Thanks very much!
CWebb is undoubtedly the answer but I forgot the question.
by commish on Jul 2, 2008 5:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
You're welcome
As for Duhon, I don’t like him on the Warriors. Not much of an offensive game and is expecting too much money. He’s visiting the Magic today and supposedly wasn’t sold on a two-year, $8-million deal that New York offered yesterday. For a guy that hasn’t done all that much in the NBA, I don’t think he’s worth it.
A solid defender and a good backup, definitely, but I don’t see him fitting in well on the Warriors without a jumpshot.
by pree on Jul 2, 2008 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
What about Harrington?
Hey Pree, is there any team hot for Al? And if there is, do they have anybody we want?
CWebb is undoubtedly the answer but I forgot the question.
by commish on Jul 2, 2008 5:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
yes there is.
coincidentally, it’s a team that already had too many point gaurds and drafted a point gaurd number one.
GET HINRICH NOW.
by dso on Jul 2, 2008 5:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really?
Everyone I have spoken to says that the Bulls do not have a high interest in Al. They like their current PF situation, able to use Gooden, Nocioni, and Tyrus Thomas there. Gooden has really impressed them and has secured the starting spot and I don’t think the Bulls will swap Nocioni out for Al.
If you say so, though, I guess.
by pree on Jul 2, 2008 8:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
rofl i dont speak to anyone
and either way the bulls are going to have a glut. but the question is in which area do they want their redundant parts to be in more? and i think the ability hinrich had once shown and the loss of confidence he had last year has led to the drafting of rose and the need to get rid of kirk. nocioni is in a similar situation in that he’s a pretty good talent but needs a change of scenery and they will probably seek to move him as well.
so they want to get rid of one pg and one forward. also, harrington has shown he’s pretty good coming off the bench: a second unit with gordon and harrington is tons of burst-fire scoring that would be hard for any team to keep up.
i think we can make it work _
by dso on Jul 2, 2008 8:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
no
hinrich is not good
"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006
by flipgatey3 on Jul 3, 2008 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
PF needed signs
Several teams desperately want to upgrade their situation at power forward, mostly in the Eastern Conference where Al once thrived as an undersized four. I like his potential over there. Because his deal is going to end soon, there are plenty of options for him and more may arise as the summer goes on.
by pree on Jul 2, 2008 8:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
hell
minds as well get all the old big 3 back. that this 30-40 million dollars of salery there, but it all good. lol naw j/p with you, get Hinrich and Brand and call it a day.
by warriorfan4life on Jul 2, 2008 6:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
just like that
sounds easy
"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006
by flipgatey3 on Jul 3, 2008 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
PREE
The First rounder you suggest to go with Al for Memphis’ trio, i’m assuming you’re thinking that pick should be lottery protected right?
I don’t think this team needs to give first rounders away, especially if there is an above average chance that we will be deep in the lottery in the coming years.
Warriors, Stupidest franchise in the league.
by kenntoe on Jul 2, 2008 7:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Raymond Felton
Well, I’d rather have Boom but out of the ones mentioned I’d be happy with Felton. I like LittleAl but if he’s unhappy I’d try to work out something with Charlotte for Felton. They do owe us big time for giving them Jason! and If they want to move Wallace for master Randolph that would be sweet!!
by Skeptic con Urquell on Jul 2, 2008 8:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Bring Arenas
The Time Is Now! Win Warriors Win!
by ballin on Jul 2, 2008 10:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
pree, by the sound of things
are we playoff contenders or in rebuild mode??? i think we need to strike while the iron is hot and offer brand, gil or maybe even josh smith what they want cause jaric, warrick and crittenton arent gonna give us that push we need.
i can see how al harington can be a bargaining chip but if i think it would be a downgrade to get them from memphis. i say mullin needs to down a gallon of red bull and glue that phone to his face and make something happen in our favor.
aka GOLDENBOYWARRIOR
by gogomaplata on Jul 2, 2008 10:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Somewhere in between ..
I think you have to be honest with yourself and ask if picking up Josh Smith or Elton Brand makes you a contender in the Western Conference. Maybe with Baron AND one of those guys, you have a chance, but that simply is not the case now.
With that understanding, it’s very possible that the team decides to just go ahead and rebuild now, staying as competitive as they can with that reality. Keep your cap space intact as long as you can, because at some point real talent that is impactful will be made available.
by pree on Jul 2, 2008 11:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great article.
Lots of great insight. The first thing I thought, too, was to get Hinirch, but I also thought the Bulls don’t need another face-up forward (Deng, Nocioni, Ty Thomas, etc) I think the Felton idea could work short term. My only apprehensions about Felton are that he’s a bad shooter, and I hear he’s really a 2-guard. Even if we offer Al and Wright/Randolph, I think it’s an unlikely scenario, though. For some reason, I don’t see us working out a deal for Felton.
In most likelyhood, though, I think we’ll leave the point issue unresolved this season and go into rebuilding mode, or we’ll overpay an underachieving point guard to fill our hole. Out of all the guys you mentioned, I like Duhon the best. He’s had an underachieving career (like 8 ppg in 30 mpg about 2 years ago) but he’s a good passer and decent defender. I think if we have to resort to acquiring guys like Jaric, it might not be worth the trouble.
I’m not sure if overpaying guys like Josh Smith or Iguodala are the solutions, either. Neither seem like main bananas or guys you run your offense through. I don’t think they can LEAD their teams to a Championship. They’d be nice complimetary guys, but neither would probably won’t be “the man” on their team (someone like Elton or Baron). Again, great article, but by leaving the Warriors with no warning whatsoever, Baron REALLY left this team in a mess. Despite what people say, I think Baron REALLY screwed this team over by leaving our team with no time to prepare…
by The Daydreamer on Jul 2, 2008 11:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Felton isn’t a great shooter, but he’s not a 2-guard. He’s got very, very good handles and is one of the few guards who will keep up with Monta in a footrace. His assist numbers are very good and his turnovers are very low for a primary ball handler.
Charlotte has been horribly mismanaged and miscoached for several years. I’m not sure we know what any of their players are really capable. Felton is unlikely to turn into a great outside shooter, but I suspect that his FG% could increase dramatically if he was allowed to open things up and drive more often. He is very, very capable of that.
by jae on Jul 3, 2008 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s got very, very good handles and is one of the few guards who will keep up with Monta in a footrace.
OK, We’ll take him. Now how do we make Mullin understand?
by Skeptic con Urquell on Jul 3, 2008 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Assists
Getting assists doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a good passer. Iverson averages like 8 assists per game, but we all know he’s really a 2- guard and not really someone you want being your point guard. Antoine Walker averages like 4 assists per game, Ricky Davis averages like 5, and Marbury averages like 8 a game, and I sure wouldn’t want any of those 3 running the Warriors offense.
My point is just because you get assists, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re good at distributing the ball. You have to watch them actually play to determine that. Stats tell a good deal but not the whole story.
That being said, I wouldn’t mind having Felton on the Warriors right now.
by The Daydreamer on Jul 3, 2008 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Check your numbers.
Iverson averaged 7.1 apg this year, 6.3 for his career. He’s an absolutely spellbinding distributor when he wants to be. Obviously he can be a ballhog, but If anything, that 6.3 apg underestimates his passing ability.
Marbury averaged 5.1 apg this year, 7.3 for his career. He sucks and is old and sullen and overpaid, so obviously you wouldn’t him running your offense, even if he were a good distributor.
Ricky Davis averaged 3.4 apg this year 3.5 for his career. That’s not even good. He’s also not remotely a point guard, so I’m not sure how he relates to your argument.
Basically, I don’t buy your premise at all. Players’ assist numbers correlate extremely well to their skill as distributors/passers. The two greatest distributors I’ve ever watched are Magic Johnson and John Stockton — not surprisingly they’re also #1 and 2 all-time in assists per game, and by a wide margin. Can you name one great distributor/passer who didn’t rack up impressive assist totals, or one player with impressive assist numbers (other than the dubious examples you’ve cited) who wasn’t a great passer?
Sign ^^^^ !!
by Sleepy Freud on Jul 3, 2008 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with you that good passers will get assists. Stockton and Magic were two of the best distributers of all time, and it’s not a coincidence those two are 1-2 in all time assists. I agree with you there. But I also think it’s possible to get assists if you’re not a good passer. I was offering Davis, Walker, and Marbury as examples supporting this.
My point was that Felton, although he gets a lot of assists, some people consider him to really be a combo guard. Guards like Iverson, although insanely talented, get lots of assists but aren’t pass-first guys. My apprehensions about trading for Felton were that he was a poor shooter and is possibly really a combo guard. Despite those flaws, though, I’d really welcome Felton right now to the Bay to fill in our hole at point guard!
by The Daydreamer on Jul 4, 2008 2:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Harrington being considered for trade bait only now???
Harrington should’ve been the one sent to Charlotte for Wright, not Richardson. Salaries are almost the same, and we would’ve kept our core lineup and most consistent scorer.
Of course, that was the past, so let’s look to the future. We have the cap room, so we should be pursuing a high impact player. Arenas is the most obvious choice-I’d love to see him back where he should have been all this time, and I’m certain Nellie can reign him into his coaching style-but also obvious is the high price tag. Brand would be a perfect fit, as would Josh Smith, but both would require Ellis learning how to play PG to fill the backcourt void.
If getting a role player is the route to go, Brent Barry, James Posey, and Corey Maggette are available; might as well get some more experience for our young team.
by J-Triumf on Jul 2, 2008 11:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
why the hell
would they want harrington for the eighth overall pick?
"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006
by flipgatey3 on Jul 3, 2008 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A note on Kelenna
pree t zinta left a comment on the website about why I left out Kelenna Azubuike .. I just didn’t have him on the depth chart because I do not know what his plans are right now. It might be safe to assume that he’ll be back, but I didn’t want to do so and felt James Jones was a good fit for a similar role.
by pree on Jul 3, 2008 12:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
+1
i’ve said it in many posts. we need jones
"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006
by flipgatey3 on Jul 3, 2008 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
+2
Thats guy can shoot lights out. Portland was a different team with him out of the lineup
by Nellieball on Jul 4, 2008 12:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Am I off base?
it is my understanding that if we sign for example Josh Smith, Crittenton, and ? then resign Monta and Beans, we are good, but if we resign tBeans and Monta first then they count towards cap? maybe you can clarify for me Pree?
by warriorbum on Jul 3, 2008 7:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
From JAE's diary
Contracts are coming for Ellis and Biedrins but they’ll be signed late because their cap holds are low (especially for Ellis) relative to what they’re likely to get. The biggest worry is another team swooping in and offering them something we’d have to match, as an offer sheet signed means the cap hold is replaced with the offer sheet dollars.
So, if the Ws are going to make a bold play for a pricy big ticket player (Iggy or JSmooth please please please), it behooves them to so ASAP — i.e. starting next Wednesday sharp — while the capholds for AB and Monta are still low.
—
As far as the cap: sure, in theory they don’t have to worry about it, but do have to think about the luxury tax, something they’ve never shown any interest in incurring. So they can’t go too crazy. But if they’re a little creative and a lot lucky, I think they could fit something like (my dream example) Iguodala, Childress, Livingston, Monta, Biedrins, and Azubuike, while staying just short of luxury tax-land.
—
Yeah, I’m not holding my breath. :-(
Sign ^^^^ !!
by Sleepy Freud on Jul 3, 2008 8:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice Article, Sonics trade sounds great
The trade with Oklahoma City sounds great. Ridnour has range on his three and is used to running an uptempo offense from his days at Oregon. Wilcox is the brusing rebounder that we need, and he can also mentor Hendrix. Who would be the other piece we give them besides Harrington?
by marzorg on Jul 3, 2008 7:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
no thanks
There’s no D in Rinour.
Last I checked, Wilcox pulled down 7 a game last year, not really bruising rebounder status. I’ll take Nick Collison over Wilcox anyday. So many here love Wilcox only because he’s been eating guys like DunMurphy over the years. He doesn’t do much against real bigs in the rest of the league.
by misterjennings on Jul 3, 2008 9:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
There’s no D in Rinour.
IIRC there was enough to frustrate Baron into giving him an elbow and drawing a suspension?
by Skeptic con Urquell on Jul 3, 2008 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
There was a D in Baron Davis. :-(
And there was even one in Jason Richardson. :-(
But there’s no D in Monta Ellis. Or Marco Belinelli. Or Kelenna Azubuike. Or CJ Watson. :-O
On the bright side, Brandan Wright has one. So does Anthony Randolph. :-)
Andris Biedrins has two! :-)
Andre Iguodala also has two! :-)
Sign ^^^^ !!
by Sleepy Freud on Jul 3, 2008 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
you must have thought
speedy claxton and byron houston sounded great.
hopefully mulson realizes that there is no need to try to “stay competitive”. time to develop/see what you have and accept the truth that we are lottery bound next two years at least.
al will be more valuable in a year as an expiring.
by the evil monkey on Jul 3, 2008 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sign and Trade
Is it possible for the warriors to find a sign and trade partner for Davis before he actually signs with the clips. I know verbal agreements don’t mean a thing and Davis would not pass up a chance for more money.
by MrHerms on Jul 3, 2008 11:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
it is probably a little late for that
"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006
by flipgatey3 on Jul 3, 2008 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Quick question Pree...
Have you thought about the prospect of taking a flyer on Jay Williams? Is he still even interested in basketball? I just remember him having a stellar college career, a decent rookie season, and then the accident… never to be heard from again. I’ve read stories about how he would like to give his career one more chance, so would it be far fetched for him to be the one?
On the flip side, Dajuan Wagner was in a similar position… but at least he was tearing it up in the CBA (or whatever that other league is). I posted a few times about him… garnering “yeah right!’s” from people on here until he actually was given a chance. Williams definitely wouldn’t hurt this team, as he would most likely be had on the cheap tip….
by Mr. Monday Night on Jul 3, 2008 11:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
i heard Jay Will
never was able to regain his quickness and so teams are steering clear.
by misterjennings on Jul 3, 2008 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jason, not Jay!
Where’s Jason these days? If Montay is gonna try to play point he needs to learn how to handle from the master. One season of white chocolate might be a good investment?
But I’d rather go for Felton and play montay at the 2 spot, more upside that way.
I actually like the idea of Felton/Whiteboy( or Ridnour if williams is retired?), Montay/Bukkake,
Jax /Randolph, wright/TMNT ,and Dris/Hendrix with Pietrus our 6th man. How much would that group cost? Can we move Belly-nelly to help pay for the guards?
by Skeptic con Urquell on Jul 3, 2008 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
He tried ..
Two years ago, he tried a comeback with the Nets .. but he lasted about a month. I remember him then going to the D-League .. Austin Toros, but they waived him as well.
The last time I had really heard of him doing something was about a year ago – he was doing motivational speaking to high school students about the importance of the choices they make in life and I remember him also hooking up with a fitness company to do training or something. I thought that was pretty good and I saw him do some commentary for the NCAA Tournament as well. I don’t think he’s interested in playing anymore.
by pree on Jul 3, 2008 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
here's an idea
what about a sign and trade with harrington for ben gordon
then offer max deals to smith/okafor hoping to get one of them
then we’d be awesome in my opinion
pg: monta
sg: ben
sf: jackson
pf: smith/okafor
c: biedrins
by dancingchiapet on Jul 3, 2008 1:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
with second string being
watson
belinelli
randolph
wright
hendrix
by dancingchiapet on Jul 3, 2008 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is there any indication that Gordon wants to come here or that Chicago is trying to rid themselves of him? That Chicago has any interest in Harrington?
by jae on Jul 3, 2008 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not that I know of
But a lot of folks here seem to believe it?
And say no to Ben Gordon! He can be had, but .. I don’t know if you want him!
by pree on Jul 3, 2008 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously. Just another midget for Barkley to make fun of.
by Nellieball on Jul 4, 2008 12:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gordon and Ellis?
Two 6-2 guards in your backcourt who can’t play any defense whatsoever? Going to have to pass on that. We’d need Shaq in his prime to be able to cover up these two matadors.
by Hac Man on Jul 3, 2008 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
John Salmons
I don’t know if anybody already brought him up, but I think he would be a perfect fit with Monta in the backcourt. The guy’s 6-7, long, he’s versatile, he creates his own offense extremely well, he’s a good passer, can take some pressure off Monta with some good ball skills. We might not have anyone to present to the Kings to bring back a player like Salmons, but at this point, anything could really happen (sign and trade free agency)
Do you like John Salmons?
by Travis Bickle on Jul 3, 2008 5:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes!
He’s not available, though, as he is the primary reason the Kings are comfortable trading Artest away. I think Salmons is a little bit crazy, too, but his game is undeniable. He’s a good defender, solid offensive player, and just an overall athlete.
But, again, he’ll be starting for the Kings by midseason, when Artest is playing in basketball purgatory
by pree on Jul 3, 2008 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Chalupas for everyone!
Sign ^^^^ !!
by Sleepy Freud on Jul 4, 2008 6:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
Looks like you are working on 3300!! and somehow I have over 1000! Those stats are a little unsettling.
"...OlympicMike is clearly the Barack Obama of GSoM"-Sleepy
by olympicmike on Jul 4, 2008 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ouch
How embarrassing. Like having someone look through your late-night internet surfing history. :-O The sad thing is, I think I’ve posted like three times on Adam Lauridsen’s blog, when Lauridsen is like 1,000X smarter, fairer, and more thoughtful than the kind fellows who run this place. No explanation, other than “force of habit…”
Fortunately, the fanpost side of the blog remains pretty lively, smart and fun. I mean, we get like 90% of the posts over here — why don’t we just secede?
Sign ^^^^ !!
by Sleepy Freud on Jul 4, 2008 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lauridsen is like 1,000X smarter, fairer, and more thoughtful than the kind fellows who run this place. No explanation, other than "force of habit…"
Sweeter crowd here?
Actually I check out the alternatives when looking for a Warriors site and these kids are the best. They provide the structure but let the group flow in our own freestyle. Reading some blog owners opinion gets old fast.
by Skeptic con Urquell on Jul 4, 2008 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
True enough.
I do give “these kids” serious props for running the site, and setting up a forum the rest of us to freestyle. And as you know, I really only have an issue with one of them (like a lot of people here, apparently).
But c’mon man, compare the angry, simple-minded tripe on the main board here lately to a well-thought out post like this one: http://blogs.mercurynews.com/warriors/2008/07/01/the-future-is-early/ The contrast is just embarrassing.
Meanwhile, you’re almost two posts away from 1,500. Not bad, but you still got a long ways to go to catch up to me, Junior. ;-)
Sign ^^^^ !!
by Sleepy Freud on Jul 4, 2008 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha
Sorry I “outed” you. Seeing the 100 post celebration sparked my curiosity. As far as the quality of the Blog goes I have to admit I mostly come here for the format and the community. Really if there was any place that I could find you, JAE, OZ, ffGolden, the Commish, Skeptic (it would be boring if we all agreed), Pree, BingBlunt, Zorgon, Coma and a few of the other guys I’d be good. I’m happy to put up with some of the lesser analysis to take advantage of the really well put together FanPost section. I’d also agree that I still look forward to reading some of the other “Main page” guys. I’ve always said that the fact that they take the time to keep this place going is the true service they provide.
As far as quality goes I’d agree that it’s Adam all the way. It’s funny though that Adam’s “Golden Break” column only appeared a hand full of times on GSoM. I thought it was supposed to be a semi regular feature.
"...OlympicMike is clearly the Barack Obama of GSoM"-Sleepy
by olympicmike on Jul 4, 2008 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If we can add Maggette, James Jones, and Keyon Dooling
to this team we could at least compete for a playoff spot. I’m tired of the lottery.
by houseofprime on Jul 4, 2008 2:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Of course Marco would be buried on the bench in that scenario.
by houseofprime on Jul 4, 2008 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd rather
we play Marco and be a top 5 pick lotto team than get Mags, Jones and Dooling and miss the playoffs and get 14 again.
Plus Mags and Jones are not good defenders.
by misterjennings on Jul 4, 2008 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well if we had slightly more depth we could won about 52-53 games without playing D
last year.
by houseofprime on Jul 4, 2008 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
but we had Baron. No Baron with more depth sadly will not = to 52 wins.
by misterjennings on Jul 4, 2008 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
No Baron with more depth
Losing Boom took a big chunk of depth right off the top! We’ve got about the depth of that toy sailboat pond in the park right now.
by Skeptic con Urquell on Jul 4, 2008 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
hey pree
Great Article, I really feel more informed about the Warriors situation and possible moves that they could make.
I am all for getting Javaris Crittenton, I think he would be awesome if we could pick him up.
My question though, what about Andre Iguodala? Is he available? would he be worth it? Do you know if the warriors are trying to get him at all?
by Agent Zero on Jul 6, 2008 7:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Not yet
The Warriors have been mentioned as possible suitors for Iggy if they strike out with all their other options. I think if you were to rank the teams preference right now, it would be:
1) Brand
2) Smith
3) Maggette
4) Iguodala
You have to put Maggette ahead of Iggy because he’s more established and would be easier to get (he isn’t restricted like Iguodala is). The Sixers would likely match for him, hoping to pair he and Smith for a very athletic lineup. They’d have a nice lineup up good enough in the East.
As far as him being worth it .. it obviously depends on the price. I like his game, though, but he doesn’t have the consistent outside shot that he would need to thrive with the Warriors.
by pree on Jul 7, 2008 2:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The thing i hate about getting Maggette is...
Unless he’s one part of our offseason makeover to find another #1 or #2 player for this team, it won’t mean very much for next season.
Maggette is a guy that’ll improve your team—but he won’t carry a team, because I feel he’s a real good #3 on a playoff team.
Right now the Warriors are hoping Monta turns into a true #1 threat on our team. But then who do we have that is a legitimate sidekick? Jack—um, no. He’s masquerading as a #2. This is an important point that Tim K brought up in his article HERE.
Another point brought up by Adam Lauridsen is the point I brought up earlier. Either go hard in playing the youth, or go hard in bringing in the right (superstar) pieces.
Here he ends with this nugget:
If we’re going to be a young, developing team, we should simply commit to our identity and make the most of it. Going halfway simply stunts growth and results in near equal frustration. Coming back completely empty handed from this batch of free agents is a risk, particularly in terms of fan rebellion. As we saw with Boston this year, however, fans come back when the winning returns. And sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards. That said, the Celtics taught everyone that you need to spend money and assets on the right players at the right time. And judging that is what separates the NBA champions from the former-GMs.
Maggette is a band-aid move by the Warriors. It’s only an attempt by the front office to not look completely incompetent. I don’t like the fact that we’re thinking about signing him, because we’re not a fringe playoff team as currently constructed. The best move should be save the money, sign the young guys, hope for a high pick (Rubio anyone?).
So please Mullin, keep giving me hope for the future.
Warriors, Stupidest franchise in the league.
by kenntoe on Jul 7, 2008 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was thinking about the Brand situation and I had an idea
If the Clippers have Brand and Baron they clearly have a “win now” mentality, and are probably following in the footsteps of Boston. Just as surely as they are in win now mode, we are definitely in rebuilding mode (if we don’t get Brand). They have two stars in Brand and Davis, what if we offered them Jackson? Without Baron or Brand we are in rebuilding mode and he is not really a part of that. I’m not 100% sure what his equal value is but I’m sure we could get either Thornton or Gordon or both. I am by no means a trade expert so I don’t know about salaries or anything but the trade is sure to decrease the Warriors’ win total next season, ensuring a higher draft pick. With that draft pick we get a big starting point guard for the future. Also, trade Harrington near the deadline for something, maybe a pick or maybe a role playing big like a Hakim Warrick or something.
2008
PG Gordon/Watson
SG Ellis/Belinelli
SF Thornton/Randolph (hopefully Buike signs because Randolph probably won’t be ready)
PF Wright/Harrington/Hendrix
C Biedrins/Harrington/Perovic
2009
PG 1st Round Draft Pick/Gordon (6th man)
SG Ellis/Belinelli
SF Thornton/Randolph (hopefully Buike signs because Randolph probably won’t be ready)
PF Wright/2nd Round Draft Pick/Hendrix (and possibly player like Warrick)
C Biedrins/2nd Round Draft Pick/Hendrix
Of course, I could be wrong and Jackson doesn’t have that kind of value, or they would need to put in more to make salaries match or something. But if I was Mullin, this is how I would rebuild. While everyone else is emulating Boston by grabbing veterans, we should be emulating Portland by getting a group of talented young guys who will age together and should be rising to the elite level just when everyone else is slowing down.
by belilaugh on Jul 7, 2008 9:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
He doesn't have that kind of value
We might have been able to move Jackson and the #14 for the #7. Thornton is going to be a solid contributor for them next year. We might be able to trade him for the lotto protected #1 in ‘09. That’s about it I’d say. Not worth it at all.
by Dubs fan in Boston on Jul 8, 2008 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pree
Okay check this out…
You know how the warriors are roughly 15 million dollars under the cap right now, because we haven’t resigned Monta or Andris, which means that they could potentially sign a big name free agent (such as Brand) then they would resign Monta and Andris…
But.. if they don’t make any major moves would it be possible to save that money and sign a big name next year or would we not have any cap room since we would have both monta and Andris on the books next year?
I hope you understand what i am asking. thanks
by Agent Zero on Jul 8, 2008 12:41 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes
They can keep the cap space with reasonable contracts to Monta and Biedrins, sign no one else, and have money next summer. In fact, it’s not that bad of an idea.
by pree on Jul 8, 2008 1:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Hm.
I’m no cap expert, but I think that’s a little misleading.
If they Ws sign AB and Monta to $18-25M per year total, I’m pretty sure that eats into most or all of their space under the cap (and that’s without considering Buki, or any other eventual vet role players).
On the bright side, next year Foyle comes off the books completely, and Harrington/Jack become expiring contracts, making them more likely pieces in trades or sign/trades. So they may well have some money to spend, but I’m pretty sure it’s not the same money they have now.
If they really want to make a bold play next summer for a max guy (read: Deron Williams), I suspect the smart move would be to (a) not sign one of Monta/AB to a long-term deal; and/or (b) use the space they have now on a big expiring contract (Marbury, e.g.) Correct me if I’m wrong.
Or, they could wait another year till Harrington and Jack fully come off the books, and try to shoot the moon in the year of LeBron, Wade and Bosh…
I dunno, the more I think about it he more I think they should try to sign Iggy, Smooth, or Brand to a near-max deal while the cap holds for AB and Monta are still low.
Sign ^^^^ !!
by Sleepy Freud on Jul 8, 2008 3:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A careful, frugal approach might leave some cap room for next year, but you’re correct: we can’t just carry over the space for next year. Biedrins won’t make things much different since his cap hold is similar to what we can expect to pay him, but Monta’s gain in salary will be greater than what we get back with Foyle falling from the books.
Best case for this off-season is to have Biedrins and Monta take the Qual offers, opening up another 3 mil in cap space. This leaves both able to walk in a year though. Best case cap scenario for next off season is a deal for Biedrins and Monta to exercise his qual offer, but that runs the risk of us losing him outright in the bidding wars. Personally, I don’t think 3 mil in cap room is worth the possibility of losing Monta or Biedrins.
by jae on Jul 8, 2008 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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