Andris Biedrins - The Forgotten Warrior :: 2009-2010 Player Recaps and Previews
by Adam Lauridsen on Oct 14, 2009 3:45 AM PDT
in Report Cards
Email
PrintWhat do Ralph Sampson, Uwe Blab, Alton Lister, Tyrone Hill, Victor Alexander, Rony Seikaly, Todd Fuller, Erick Dampier, Adonal Foyle, and Troy Murphy have in common? They've all been opening night starting centers for the Warriors in the past twenty years -- and their performances as Warriors all fall short of what Andris Biedrins has brought to the team. But despite nearly two decades of longing for a high quality center, some Warriors fans don't seem to appreciate fully the one that fell into their laps at the 11th pick in 2004, fresh from Riga, Latvia. That'll likely change in 09-10, and hopefully not only after Andris' departure.
Before breaking down what Andris is, it's worth a quick review of what he isn't. He isn't the reincarnation of Wilt Chamberlain and no one ever labeled him Mini/Lil'/Baby/Junior Shaq. He's not the guy you want going toe-to-toe with Dwight Howard and he can't see eye-to-eye with Yao. He's not the guy you want shooting two free throws when you're down by 1 with no time left on the clock. He's not going to be a Hall of Fame center, but those types of players typically only come along every 5-8 years -- and when there are 30 teams drafting you're a long shot to land one (unless David Stern is kindly willing to put your draft envelop on ice). Andris is a limited player, but his limitations just happen to fit perfectly within the Warriors' current style of play.
Whether you call it Nellie ball, small ball, or gimmick ball, Don Nelson uses his centers in a unique way. He simultaneously wants them crashing the boards and blocking shots, but doesn't want them plodding along or clogging up the middle. They need to be mobile and agile, with soft hands and good instincts. It's nice if they have a 10 foot jump shot or can pass from the high post, but their primary job is to stop penetration, secure the defensive rebound, start the break, and get down to the other end of the court to be in offensive rebounding position before the shot goes up (not always an easy task when the Warriors are going full throttle). No one has been better at this since Nelson first coached the Warriors than Andris Biedrins.
But Andris' outstanding play often gets overlooked because he's so foundational. He's not the focus of the offense, he just provides the stops and rebounds that allow the rest of the team to get out on the break. He's usually not the man streaking to the basket for a dunk, but it's often his screen that created the glimpse of daylight making the play possible. And Andris might not be getting many shots per game, but it's his offensive rebounds that give the other Warriors even more looks at the basket. When Andris goes down -- as he did with appendicitis two years ago and a variety of ailments last year -- opposing guards get closer to the rim, opposing big men get more second chance points, the Warriors take longer to start their breaks, the lanes to the basket collapse, and the second chance points dry up. The emergence of Anthony Randolph has helped take some of the pressure off Biedrins, but on far too many nights the Latvian and longest-tenured Warrior (along with Monta) still looks like Custer, making his last stand in the paint.
So while I could go on and on about how well Andris reads opponents when rotating on defense, or how good he is at making quick passes from the block, or what a tireless, positive force he's been on the team through these turbulent times, we've still got to wrestle with the fact that the team he anchored last year simply wasn't very good. And if the Warriors are going to improve, Andris needs to step up. I think he's up to the task -- and there are plenty of signs that 09-10 might be the year he makes the jump from solid player to difference maker.
- With Stephen Curry looking like a real point guard, Andris will have a teammate capable of feeding him the ball on breaks and pick-and-rolls. Biedrins' speed allows him to beat opponents down the court, and his agility allows him to work around them in the half court. Although he took a step back year handling the ball, he usually has soft hands and a nice touch from within five feet. Curry should get the most from Andris' abilities, hopefully integrating him more fully into the offense -- which will help with the spacing over the rest of the court.
- Now 23 years old, Andris is only just entering the peak period of development of NBA big men. I'm optimistic that solid competition over the summers in European play combined with the Warriors' recent hiring of Scott Roth (famed for helping Pau Gasol and Dirk Nowitzki adapt to the NBA) will help accelerate his development. Again, if Andris can develop enough of an offensive game to demand fairly consistent defensive attention, it'll only help open up the key for players like Curry, Ellis, and Azubuike to slash to the basket.
- The signing of Ronny Turiaf last year provided the Warriors with a perfect change of pace to spell Andris against larger, stronger players. Turiaf has the lower body strength needed to push out the bigger centers in the NBA. Ideally, if the Warriors are attacking, Biedrins can use his quickness to turn his opponent's size and weight into a disadvantage. If not, Turiaf should provide relief. And if Andris improves his offensive game, we might get to see Biedrins paired with Turiaf against larger front lines -- particularly given our reduced front-court depth following Wright's injury. Biedrins' limitations are less of an issue now that we have the ideal role player to complement him. Andris will play in situations where he can do the most damage.
But despite all of the above, Andris' primary role on the Warriors this off-season and preseason has been as the leading trade rumor target. Whether in the rumored deal for Stoudemire last June or Chris Bosh this week, Andris' name keeps popping up. But the fact that he continues to be the guy other teams want should give us serious pause before we swap him out for whatever rent-a-big-man Nelson, Riley, and Rowell think will help give the team an immediate boost.
- A Warriors team replacing Andris with Amare immediately becomes significantly worse defensively and on the boards. And any boost gained offensively will come primarily from Amare's jump shooting, not inside play, as he demonstrated on Saturday when Randolph thoroughly outplayed him in the paint. When you factor in Amare's health, locker room issues, and the other pieces likely involved on our end, the deal's a non-starter for me.
- The rumored Bosh swap is a closer call, since Chris is a better rebounder, defender, and all-around team presence than Amare -- but I still worry about whether he'll do the dirty work in Nelson's system of banging repeatedly against the other team's biggest player. If Bosh is paired with Turiaf at center, our rebounding suffers and Randolph is forced to the bench (since he can't play 3 until he demonstrates a consistent jumper). If Bosh is paired with Randolph at center, Anthony will get abused by bigger, stronger guys (and likely foul himself off the floor far sooner than we'd all like). There's no denying Bosh is a world-class talent and the type of guy we'd love on our team, but there's a deeper question of how exactly you hope to use him on the team remaining post-trade -- and whether that use looks like it'll be any more successful than the scheme he's been treading water in with Toronto.
In a perfect world, we'd get to pair a rebounding / dirty work center like Biedrins with an offensive power forward like Stoudemire or Bosh. But swapping one for the other seems to create as many problems as it solves, particularly since our team is in much greater need of rebounding and defense than scorers. Fortunately, the perfect world scenario might just require a little patience -- while we wait for Anthony Randolph to mature. Andris Biedrins has grown up on the Warriors, from the youngest player in the league to a team captain. To abandon his development now -- just as he appears poised to round out his skills along with a young crop of well-matched teammates -- would be a classic short-sighted Warriors move. Skilled centers like Andris don't come along every day -- as we learned all too well in the two decades before Andris arrived.
Adam Lauridsen blogs regularly for the San Jose Mercury News at Fast Break.
58 comments
|
13 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Excellent write-up
My sentiments exactly!
Biedrins may be the most under-appreciated player on the Warriors.
You are so right
Remember all the years we longed for even an adequate center. Then we end up with Andris and we completely devalue his worth, not to mention subsequently throwing his name around in all kinds of trade rumors. As you (Adam) and others astutely point out, if this team had any clear direction or identity, Beans would be a solid centerpiece (no pun intended) to a rebuilding franchise instead of constant trade bait. I’m sure the org doesn’t think this way for obvious reasons, but until Cohan sells and Rowell and Nelson are sent packing with him, every move they think of making is just a desperate attempt to keep butts in the seats. They have no plan or vision for a real team. It is just too bad that someone like Andris gets caught up in this desperation. For a young guy, he has shown an amazing amount of maturity to put up with this crap from the org and some of his me first teammates (read captains and ex-captains).
We Believe We Were Deceived
Great piece, Adam, as always. The more you deign to drop your pearls of insight in here, the closer this place comes to fulfilling its mission (?) of being “unstoppable baby.”
Problem is, your posts always are so damn thorough, I really have nothing to add. For fun, I thought I might append Biedrins’ numbers through five preseason games, because they’re so delightfully Biedrinsesque (well, except for the FT%)…
Per 36 minutes
--
9.6 pts (.667 fg%, 1.000 ft%)
15.7 reb
3.8 ast
1.6 blk
2.2 stl
Small sample size, obviously, but they do seem to reflect a career trend: his overall game keeps getting better rounded (in the areas of passing, help defense, and court awareness, if not traditional “post moves”), while his ridiculously good rebounding continues to climb into the elite-o-sphere. Instead of comparing him to true post-men like Shaq, we should really be thinking of him as a taller, more offensively polished, less kooky version of Dennis Rodman. That’s a weapon literally every team in the NBA would love to have — and a $9M a year (non escalating) for his age 23-27 years, a total bargain.
As an aside: big props to AB1 (I’m assuming you’re responsible, Atma Bro) for ceding the floor to an opinion on this subject so opposed to his own. Unless maybe he’s coming around…? ;-)
There will be no extra point!
by Sleepy Freud on Oct 14, 2009 7:44 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
Thorough
Yeah, I know. I had nothing to add either. All I could do was quietly rec this post.
by IQofaWarrior on Oct 14, 2009 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions
he's already busted out!
Just keep on keeping on, Andris.
I am very happy with our big core (‘cept a little thin at 4 now with Wright out). For all the reasons Adam states, F.O., PLEASE don’t mess with it. Support it. Allow the team to grow together. Andris, Turiaf , and Randolph should be untouchable.
Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right.
Well, I don’t see a reason to trade those 3 either, but you can’t call someone like Turiaf “untouchable”. Everyone’s touchable for the right deal, and while it’s unrealistic to think a deal involving Randolph would ever be worthwhile (it’d basically have to involve bringing a superstar back), there are endless possibilities of deals that make sense and involve someone like Turiaf…
by Missing Barry on Oct 14, 2009 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions
If Turiaf is the sticking point that is killing a deal, then something is significantly wrong. A backup center with who, although armed with a reasonable contract and is well loved by his fans and team and has done an admirable job as an individual defender and passes well but doesn’t rebound well and, despite a reasonable jumper, has always been either reluctant to shoot or simply cannot work himself into an offense all that often (and, because of the rebound issue, fails to get the “putbacks and dunks” that so many seem to think are easy enough that everyone should get them) is not the key component to any team’s larger success. The moment that things that aren’t key components to larger success start being “untouchable”, you’re doomed.
by jae on Oct 14, 2009 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
an example?
My point, really, is that Turiaf is undervalued and I believe we wouldn’t get anything back for him I’d likely want. If, for instance, you were to replace Biedrin’s name with Turiaf’s in the Bosh or Stoudemire deals, I’d probably bite because we would be getting a big back. But I really like Ronny’s beef when it comes to some of the big centers we know Andris has trouble with. As Adam says, in this regard, they complement each other.
Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right.
But I really like Ronny’s beef when it comes to some of the big centers we know Andris has trouble with.
Yet for the “beef” and his ability to hold off other teams’ bigs, he did not make the team a better defensive unit as a whole. This is largely because he does not rebound well. While he might keep another center from scoring as much, it is at the expense of a reasonable number of second chance points for the opposition.
I suspect that on a team with better perimeter defenders, Andris would be much more valuable as there would be more misses fired up by guards and forwards when they couldn’t get by their man at will or weren’t wide open most of the time. In such a case, you’d need the better rebounder and the number of easy feeds to whomever the center was matched up against would be fewer. On a team with poor perimeter defense where the ball is fed to the other team’s big regularly, the stronger interior defender (Turiaf) has value.
makes sense.
Perhaps we could use Andris more when Jack and KA are on the wing and Ronny more when Maggette and Ellis/Curry are being played. Of course, opposing match-ups need to be considered. But this flexibility is good for the team. I’d hate to give that up to, for instance, just get fair value back in a wing for Jack trade.
I’m also one of those who hopes to see both on the floor together sometimes when Randolph is taking a breather.
Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right.
Thanks all
Atma was kind enough to pass the mic despite our differing opinions on Andris. I’m also hoping to make it back with some more Golden Break pieces this year.
No thing at all man. What keeps this place golden are the diverse array of well-reasoned, passionate, and intelligent perspectives. This place is called “Golden State of Mind” for a reason.
Nice work as always! Now, if you could just figure out a way for the Warriors to legally void Jack’s contract.
Golden State of Mind :: Always keeping it... "Unstoppable Baby!"
by Atma Brother ONE on Oct 14, 2009 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions
Now, if you could just figure out a way for the Warriors to legally void Jack’s contract.
Can you do Maggette while you’re at it, too? Yeah it’ll be a bit harder, but it’d sure be nice…
by Missing Barry on Oct 14, 2009 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions
Probably Rowell's biggest fail
He could of stuck a clause or two regarding behavior, like the Ricky Williams contract. I mean there as no agent. Did Jack have a good attorney when he negotiated this? Maybe since the extension hasn’t kicked in, Rowell pulled off a masterful clause that will exercise next year, but can’t draw attention to it yet. Jack’s new agent saw this and told him to cause trouble now, so they can renegotiate. Can anything creative be done with the NBA CBA so iron-clad however?
"We're Menudo," -BB
Ya. Thanks Atma for letting him post this on the Main Page.
Can you move this to the Recommended Fanpost slot since it already disappeared from the Main Page?
Would that be too much to ask? lol.
Romes Mac Mojous
by ROMESdavidWOOD37 on Oct 15, 2009 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Dris is a true Warrior
In a perfect world, we’d get to pair a rebounding / dirty work center like Biedrins with an offensive power forward like Stoudemire or Bosh. But swapping one for the other seems to create as many problems as it solves, particularly since our team is in much greater need of rebounding and defense than scorers. Fortunately, the perfect world scenario might just require a little patience — while we wait for Anthony Randolph to mature. Andris Biedrins has grown up on the Warriors, from the youngest player in the league to a team captain. To abandon his development now — just as he appears poised to round out his skills along with a young crop of well-matched teammates — would be a classic short-sighted Warriors move. Skilled centers like Andris don’t come along every day — as we learned all too well in the two decades before Andris arrived.
This said it all, we dont need to trade Dris to get a superstar. Dris is the most versitile center in the league
Win Or Lose Warriors For Life.........
Great Post/ Add a couple things
I also really like Sleepys Dennis Rodman comparison. We all remember how effective & valuable he was. I would note a couple more negative things though:
1) he can’t play at the end of games (the most vital part), crunch time until he learns to shoot free throws
2) Dennis Rodman was just as good as a defender as rebounder. Andris has got to pick up his aggressiveness and effort here.
Having said that, he is as valuable to this team as anyone we have and i would hate to see him traded. His highest value is being added upon rather than a trading chip as explained above. To be a championship team in this league these days you really need two great big men. LA, has three. Portland has two, SA, had two, etc. etc.
Unfortunately the best thing for the warriors might be to wait one more year. Idealing trading Jackson for expiring contracts and a draft pick would be best. Then we could add Amare/ Bosh / etc. to what we already have. More likely that we advanve that way than the rent a player and try to add around him.
Dennis Rodman was just as good as a defender as rebounder. Andris has got to pick up his aggressiveness and effort here.
Haha, Yeah they don’t seem similiar if you remember watching Rodman play. Jax actually reminds me more of the worm.
I think it’s gonna be interesting see what happens to Dre after nellie retires? I don’t know what he’ll do when a normal coach comes in here and wants him to play like a normal center?
Standing on the moon
Where talk is cheap and vision true
Standing on the moon
But I would rather be with you
Somewhere in San Francisco
On a back porch in July
Just looking up to heaven
At this crescent in the sky
by Skeptic con Urquell on Oct 14, 2009 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions
Jax actually reminds me more of the worm.
In the sense that they’re both…? Ain’t the rebounding, that’s for certain.
In the sense that they’re both…?
Hard nosed defenders with an independent streak, not afraid to tell the refs what they think.
Standing on the moon
Where talk is cheap and vision true
Standing on the moon
But I would rather be with you
Somewhere in San Francisco
On a back porch in July
Just looking up to heaven
At this crescent in the sky
by Skeptic con Urquell on Oct 14, 2009 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
trouble makers?
Win with trouble or lose with bland? This is a game not a personality contest, if RonRon can play defense we put up with his quirks, if not we should take up another hobby?
Standing on the moon
Where talk is cheap and vision true
Standing on the moon
But I would rather be with you
Somewhere in San Francisco
On a back porch in July
Just looking up to heaven
At this crescent in the sky
by Skeptic con Urquell on Oct 14, 2009 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions
they don’t seem similiar if you remember watching Rodman play. Jax actually reminds me more of the worm.
Haha. Yeah, I must have forgotten where Rodman was a weak-rebounding chucker who liked to handle the ball and fancied himself a point guard.
Precisely why when analyzing hoops, you shouldn’t always trust your eyes.
Or at least: your eyes. ;-P
There will be no extra point!
by Sleepy Freud on Oct 14, 2009 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, I use to crack up watching Rodman. He’d fight like hell for an offensive rebound, then pass it to a teammate even if he was unguarded right in front of the rim.
I’ve never seen a player so intent on grabbing an offensive rebound while being so utterly uninterested in scoring.
"We're in this thing!" My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman, "Sweet Jesus" Guzman and Jesus H. Guzman.
You mean we get an objective, reasoned piece on Andris this year?
Holy crap.
we in the losin baseball binness. and cousin, binness is a boomin.
Gift horse, mouth, etc… ;-)
There will be no extra point!
by Sleepy Freud on Oct 14, 2009 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions
Thaaaaaank you!
The bashing young Andris gets here on a regular basis is unbearable. Especially if you compare him to most of his team mates and even more so if you remember his predecessors.
I like a lot of the things Andris does but it really makes me happy (with a smile and everything) when he starts the break and dribbles the ball over midcourt. Love those moments.
+10000000
This is a great piece. Always liked Andris for his professionalism and sense of humor. Nice work!
Great Post
Even I am starting to reconsider our need for Bosh if we have to trade our big Latvian man. I am still pro Bosh, but this definitely has me thinking. Thanks for the great post.
You know I spit technique to the freshest freak
Gimme a call you will see results in just a week
With the soul of a LOST HAWK
Is there a heaven for a Rap Cat, let's talk
Great write-up!
I’m also very leary of trading a guy who gets better every year, is entering his prime years and causes no headaches on a team that seems to have chronic migraines.
"We're in this thing!" My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman, "Sweet Jesus" Guzman and Jesus H. Guzman.
woohoo, my first post here, but i agree, why trade away a guy who is ONLY 23 and like you said is entering his prime years? I’m almost amazed he’s only 23, i never really realized how young he really was or is now. He’s the guy you really hear nothing bad about and causes no anger from teammates and isn’t too vocal about anything. If anything he’s a leader by effort and SHOWS it rather than being a VOCAL leader such as Jackson, not saying he’s a great leader, but there’s definitely two different leaders.
He’s the guy you really hear nothing bad about
If you ignore his getting kicked off the Latvian team or whatever (not sure of the exact details), I guess….
Ha just kidding, Biedrins does seem to be pretty easy going and plays hard and doesn’t cause problem. Agree with the points that he’s already productive, he’s young, and he has a good contract.
by Missing Barry on Oct 14, 2009 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh yea very true! i actually did forget about that. Forgot what it was about and all… yea, he’s smart and looks to have fun playing the game, not like Jackson. I almost feel like there are players out there that would dread playing for the warriors, just because how bad they’ve been over the past 15 years, ya know? like i hate it, but it’s gotta be the truth
not saying he’s a great leader
That’s probably the best reason to consider trading him?
He’s not bad but not great? Are we reduced to that now?
I wouldn’t trade him unless the right deal came along but I wouldn’t put him on my untouchable list with Lebron or DHo.
Standing on the moon
Where talk is cheap and vision true
Standing on the moon
But I would rather be with you
Somewhere in San Francisco
On a back porch in July
Just looking up to heaven
At this crescent in the sky
by Skeptic con Urquell on Oct 14, 2009 12:20 PM PDT reply actions
excellent piece
but while I 100% agree with everything written by Adam I should add couple things from my perpective
Andris is and will be great player -no doubt
but right now he is somewhere in betweeen a guy who creates a lot for others and is a great team player and compliments well for any other teammate on the floor
and the next level where he can be a real factor who impact game directly and is one of the main reason for wins
background for my opinion is Latvia national team where 5 players after last tournament were banned from national team for 1 – 3 years (Biedrins included (1 year conditionally))
after tournment where Latvia team couldn’t get out of the group (2L 1W) dissapointment was so great that after last game (win over Germany with not enough point differential) other C of Latvia Kaspars Kambala (former UNLV) elbowed teeth out of celebrating Germany players mouth
-and what was hidden before became public
the biggest problem for team with moto “NOW OR NEVER” became motivation
several players came drunk to practices -some of them made campfire in Turkey hotel room etc. -most detailed rumors described even shitting in showers or puking in airport (cool hangover ha) -in those cases Biedrins name was severaly noted
while i don’t give a shit about all the rumors in the world -game showed it all
-in first game with Russia i didn’t saw AB -i saw …SJax instead -guy who’s beggest strenght is rebounding was arguing with refs while he could fight for rebounds or return in defense -it was most important game in tournament IMO
in second game (with France) Biedrins came out motivated and collected 20 boards and it was pretty obvious why RT is backup and AB is starter -sadly game was lost …because of Parker
in third game all team was too frustrated to get the job done -they won but didn’t get out of the group
actually this tournament somehow killed a bball fan inside of me for about 30-50% -it was even painful to read something about this game for about month
as Latvia team GM noted in his report about Andris Biedrins that even Keith Smart (Latvia team assistant in some games) mentioned that it was way easier when Andris had a girlfriend…
I mean Andris Biedrins right now reminds me guy without a vision or some goal in his career -it looks like first goal for him was prove himself in NBA level and get the proff of his worth (contract)
but for now he plays without some understanding what’s the next step for him as for person or player
i always thought that anyone can be as big as his will
i just hope Biedrins will is bigger than his contract
30 Y 197 cm 115 kg 0 IQ
Oh what
He broke up with his girlfriend? That’s a shame.
Thanks for the inside info LWNT. I never want to see Biedrins act like Jack ever. Hopefully he left that impersonation in Latvia.
This is Kristin Kreuk, now zip it. - GTTM
Hopefully he left that impersonation in Latvia.
they say that Biedrins in Latvia and Biedrins in CA are 2 different persons
(imagine y23yo millionaire flying around local strip clubs with retarded childhood friends)
…hopefully
-actually my biggest disappointment in national teams context was exactly AB -because i’ve always was considering him as hardworking player
30 Y 197 cm 115 kg 0 IQ
by Lat We N Trash on Oct 14, 2009 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions
my biggest disappointment in national teams context was exactly AB -because i’ve always was considering him as hardworking player
Don’t be so hard on him, it was his vacation time and a guy deserves some relaxation. If it’s gonna be a big problem he should just not play for that summer team anymore and save his energy for the Warriors?
Standing on the moon
Where talk is cheap and vision true
Standing on the moon
But I would rather be with you
Somewhere in San Francisco
On a back porch in July
Just looking up to heaven
At this crescent in the sky
by Skeptic con Urquell on Oct 14, 2009 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions
LOL summer team
in some way you’re right -if he can’t save enough motivation for playing for his country he shouldn’t do that
BTW one of the most hated guys in his homeland …is big Z -because he always finds some reasons for not playing in his ‘summer team’
30 Y 197 cm 115 kg 0 IQ
by Lat We N Trash on Oct 15, 2009 6:31 AM PDT up reply actions
So he’s a $9mil/year cheerleader?
in some way
i guess somewhere inside he still feels like this 18 yo kid who had problems to stay on the floor -he’s afraid to take responsibility
30 Y 197 cm 115 kg 0 IQ
by Lat We N Trash on Oct 14, 2009 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions
+1 Biedrins is vastly underrated.
****
Forgot about my live NBA fantasy draft yesterday and auto picked Sjax in the 4th round then the guy right after me picked Biedrins. I was kicking myself.
chilibean_3 says: Cybermaldonado, "I don’t think you understand anything. Anything at all." Stay classy chilibean my friend.
stupid question...
Beans is always the center piece of all these trade rumors. I know these things are driven by the need of the team being bartered with, but could we not use any other combo of people to rent one of the great power forwards? While AR develops, trading monta/jack/magette/expirings/etc for a Bosh or an Amare, does not sound like a bad idea. Between the ample back up minutes at PF and C, AR could still get enough playing time as he works on that ugly shot. I think with
Curry
Morrow
Buike
All-star PF TBD
Beans
we would be an instant playoff caliber team, still with depth.
I’m sure there are myriad reasons why this is not feasible, or i would have heard it a million times in all of these threads and I will get a dozen “yeah, stupid question” responses, but entertain this novice, if you could. If you’re another GM with an expiring PF with another bad contract and Monta’s game continues to improve, as it will, is he and an expiring and a jack or magette not enticing? I would think so, but I’m sure I will learn why it is not ASAP…
I don’t know if Curry is THE future, but he is a PG, and that is what we need, and the only think he has yet to prove is his shot, something that will surely come. Monta is very good and will get better, but both will never shine together. Morrow is a starter, hands down. The kid earned it and we need a PG that can get him the rock. The above five with maybe Mags/BW/AR/Law/Turiaf as back ups sounds like a winner, one that may even get one of these rentals to stay, and if we couldn’t get rid of the Maggs albatross, we could at least ensure he never played PF and Mikki Moore could go back to impersonating Busta Rhymes at the County Fair. The problem will surely be finding the other team willing, but if Monta does what I think he is going to do, will this not be possible?
one adage that is not really true
is that you never trade big for small. but, considering its a one year rental, i don’t know why you couldn’t put a package around monta for boozer and keep beans and randolph. utah has the size with deron and kirlinko around him to mask monta’s defensive woes. there are few players with his combo of speed and midrange game.
"We're Menudo," -BB
Monta’s game continues to improve, as it will, is he and an expiring and a jack or magette not enticing? I would think so, but I’m sure I will learn why it is not ASAP…
Montay is a known quantity to us and Curr-bury is a speculation. We know Montay can play a little point and can also step out and score a quick 20 points if need be. We don’t know yet what the little Curr will turn out to be so it’s not smart management to offer Montay up for trade right now unless we get a very beneficial deal thus he won’t be that enticing to most teams?
Standing on the moon
Where talk is cheap and vision true
Standing on the moon
But I would rather be with you
Somewhere in San Francisco
On a back porch in July
Just looking up to heaven
At this crescent in the sky
by Skeptic con Urquell on Oct 14, 2009 4:35 PM PDT reply actions
great post
it still amazes me how underappreciated biedrins is by so many warrior fans
I changed my mind
i don’t want to trade Biedrins for Bosh or Stoudemire. Beans is a top 10 center and he is only going to get better from this point on
Fear is the Mind Killer
Finally some sanity on this subject
Thanks Adam for writing a clear, logical piece about AB. It is refreshing to get an objective view on this subject.
But one part of your post is slightly misleading. Biedrins did not happen to “fall” to the W’s at the #11 spot in the draft. Quality international scouting by the W’s front office led Chris Mullin to offer Andris a draft promise. In exchange for ending all workouts with other teams, the W’s told Andris they would select him with their pick. This is quite a gamble, but as your post illustrates, one that has paid off handsomely. Andris could most certainly be a Philadelphia 76er, who had the #9 pick, but they never could workout Biedrins, so they went with a safer pick (Iguodala).
Mullin takes a lot of hits on this forum but rarely gets credit for his brilliant decisions, like this one.
by UncleCliffy on Oct 14, 2009 6:35 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Mullin takes a lot of hits on this forum but rarely gets credit for his brilliant decisions, like this one.
you sayin we coulda had iguodala if we’d let Dre work out for Philly? smart move??
Standing on the moon
Where talk is cheap and vision true
Standing on the moon
But I would rather be with you
Somewhere in San Francisco
On a back porch in July
Just looking up to heaven
At this crescent in the sky
by Skeptic con Urquell on Oct 14, 2009 9:33 PM PDT reply actions
Very very good post Adam. Rec'd.
Glad to hear you are an AB fan and favor him staying with the Dubs unlike a very few of us on here. I was very surprised to see a dedicated post for Biedrins on GSoM’s main page.
I was furious over the summer with the trade rumors and got into heated discussions about keeping AB, how we don’t need Amare when we already have AR ready to explode as a Star PF, how the AR-Turiaf-AB trio works great…blah blah blah.
The beginning of last season, I posted that I wanted a consistent play of an AB & Turiaf front court. I hope we continue to see it.
I hear about the trade rumors once again with AB for Bosh, and i’m just sick of it. It’s not even worth stressin over anymore. It’s like who cares anymore. We’ve been a mess and always will be a mess. It’s only a matter of time before Monta leaves. Please provide a timeline for Anthony Randolph’s Warrior timelife so it’ll be easier to bare with when the time comes.
Whatever.
All I could do is appreciate the time he plays for the Warriors now while I can and categorize his jersey as another Warrior throwback in my closet.
Keep posting Adam and go warriors still.
I really support these points you made:
Andris is a limited player, but his limitations just happen to fit perfectly within the Warriors’ current style of play.
But the fact that he continues to be the guy other teams want should give us serious pause before we swap him out for whatever rent-a-big-man Nelson, Riley, and Rowell think will help give the team an immediate boost
Skilled centers like Andris don’t come along every day — as we learned all too well in the two decades before Andris arrived.
Romes Mac Mojous
by ROMESdavidWOOD37 on Oct 15, 2009 1:09 PM PDT reply actions
We should look
to keep Dre. He should be our center piece and we don’t need Amare or Bosh when we have Randolph
Die Hard Golden State Warrior Fan 4 Life!!!
The Golden Future
Curry-20pts,4rbs,10ast,2stl
Randolph-22pts,11rbs,3ast, 2blk
Morrow-18pts,5rbs,2ast,48 3pt%
Can't wait until GS make it to the PLAYOFFS!!
Living 4 a GSW Championship!!!
EFFORTTTTTTTT
some person said andris needs more effort i only need to point to one game to show the heart of andris and that is the game against boston when right after he got another double double he had an emergency appendectomy. so excuse me for blasting you on that statement
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
"UNSTOPPABLE BABY!"
Golden State Warriors rookie Marc Jackson to the Mavericks' bench, after hitting a lay-up during a 29-point loss (2000)
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
