Q&A: Tim Kawakami (Mercury News) :: 2009-2010 Golden State Warriors Preseason (Part 2 of 4)
by Atma Brother ONE on Oct 6, 2009 4:04 PM PDT
in Interviews
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There's a great supplement to this Q&A that Tim posted earlier today on his blog: The Monta Ellis Situation: It’s not about Curry, it’s about the Warriors’ non-trade on draft night
Note:
- "Captains" Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis didn't seem to mind young Warriors bigs Andris Biedrins and Brandan Wright (and for that matter guard Marco Belinelli) being shipped out for Amare Stoudemire.
- Amare didn't seem overjoyed on the thought of playing with "Captains" Jack and Monta- neither of these guys look to be great recruiters.
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Make sure to check out Part 1 of our ongoing Q&A if you haven't already.
Jump for Tim's thoughts on Brandan Wright, Andris Biedrins, and how much blame to assign to former Warriors GM Chris Mullin for the dysfunction junction on 800 Hegenberger Road.
Golden State of Mind: We heard a lot from Stephen Jackson, Monta Ellis, and a little bit from Stephen Curry (mostly in response to Ellis saying they couldn't play together) via the media. But what about the other guys on this team? Is there anything interesting, noteworthy, or telling that any of the other players said so far in training camp?
Tim Kawakami: You sent me the questions before the Brandan Wright injury, which is a terrible one for him, just when he was legitimately opening up the Warriors' eyes. So he's a development two ways now: First as a guy coming into his own at the very least as a Warriors rotation player behind Randolph and maybe as someone other teams would want in a trade.
I think another issue is Andris Biedrins--he's another guy Don Nelson wouldn't mind moving. Andris is never going to go public with a beef, but how are these minutes going to be parceled at the 5/4 spot with Biedrins, Turiaf, Randolph, Maggette and Devean George? I wonder...
Golden State of Mind: Former front office executive Chris Mullin is the chief architect of the current Warriors roster and convinced Nelson to come on board late in the summer of 2006. This is a roster that very few believe will even qualify for the playoffs this season in a league where over half of the teams play beyond the regular season. How much blame if any would you assign to Mullin for the Warriors current mess?
Tim Kawakami: Not surprisingly, I don't blame Mullin for much, other than for playing into Nelson's strengths--of which there are many--and then not being able to counter-move when Nelson began his natural lust for more power, which convinced Rowell to rid himself of Mullin.
Mullin didn't re-sign Jackson, and in fact had a deal tentatively in place to trade Jackson for Tayshaun Prince. Mullin didn't lose Baron Davis, and in fact had a deal tentatively in place to keep him for three more years ( plus last year).
Mullin drafted Randolph, Biedrins, Ellis and Wright. He's partly to blame (along with Rowell) for the Maggette signing, and for giving Ellis and Biedrins those huge deals, but Mullin always believed in keeping the talent you've got, because you'll almost always be able to move it if you have to.
He did that with Dunleavy and Murphy. Mullin and Nelson got this team to the playoffs in 2007 and to 48 victories in 2008. Then Mullin wasn't politically sneaky enough to protect against Nelson and Rowell gunning to take all credit and all power, which caused a seismic sense of frustration with the players.
I don't see how the current capped-out bundle of unhappy players is Mullin's fault.
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Keep it locked for parts 3 and 4!
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My only question is.....
Why is there so much Tony Caca- Wacky on this site? I don’t even bother reading it anymore because I know my time can be better spent picking my nose. This guy talks a lot of game, unfortunetly he has to game to speak of, and his “sources” are his left and right eyes.
by VERY VERY BUSY on Oct 6, 2009 5:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
el oh el
Tim Kawakami knows basketball, like Ray Ratto knows Football. Both their newspapers are dying… so…. there you have it.
Chris Mullin made some of the worst contracts in Warriors history. He also had a couple of bad draft picks. Also, he had a couple of bad trades.
He did NOT solidify himself as a great GM. He just didnt. Everyone wants a guy like that to succeed because they loved him as a player. Dont believe me?
WHY IS MICHAEL JORDAN STILL AN EXECUTIVE IN THIS LEAGUE WITH HIS RIDICULOUS HISTORY ?
THank you.
Come again.
by sjboy on Oct 6, 2009 5:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
But you don't understand -- Mullin gave Kawakami exclusive interviews
That’s why Kawakami loves him. Here’s an example of TK’s tough, fearless, non-homer writing about Mullin:
One word, stretched over three cheery Brooklyn syllables, explained everything.
``Beauuuu-tii-ful.’’
Tuesday afternoon, Chris Mullin didn’t need a salary-cap slide rule to document the sea change in Warriorland after Monday’s inspired Antawn Jamison/Nick Van Exel mega-trade with Dallas.
Mullin didn’t need to take over the official titles of Warriors general manager, savior, strategist or Chief Guru in Charge of Nixing Garry St. Jean’s Latest Brainstorm. Quizzed about the subtle triumphs littered throughout the Jamison trade, Mullin only had to say the word: Beautiful.
Rest assured, Mullin, the Warriors great who began his ``special assistant’’ role a year ago, already has or soon will assume many of the team’s decision-making responsibilities.
For now, sensitive about jumping heedlessly into both the public eye and the NBA personnel bonfire, Mullin remains mostly in the background.
So, until Mullin takes the reins — probably next summer — what we get are tidbits about his growing influence and vision.
What we got last week, when the deal was arranged, was the most thoughtful trade the Warriors have made since Don Nelson left the premises.
Not that it was a tongue bath or anything, but word is Mullin had to get checked for STDs afterward.
by Swopa on Oct 6, 2009 6:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Disagree... Mullin did a great job.
Mullin did a great job as GM. I was surprised and disappointed to see him canned. His draft picks have been great! We made the playoffs and made history against the Mavs. The contracts for Beans and Monta are very fair both ways. These guys have talent. What’s hurt the Warriors most the past 15 yrs is the musical chairs of GM’s, Coaches, and players. With time and chemistry, this is a playoff team… and hopefully deep playoffs. This year should be fun to watch.
by bick on Oct 7, 2009 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mullin did a great job as GM.
Mullin may have been acceptable. There are arguments that he did a good job, arguments that he did not do a good job. However, to describe what he did as “great” significantly cheapens the word “great”. It is similar to the rather loose application of the term great when a few said that Crawford was a great player.
“Great” should be reserved for something significantly outside the ordinary realm, something that few can do. Making a fringe playoff team in a league where >50% of all teams make the playoffs, giving large contracts to Dunleavy and Murphy before there was any indication that they could warrant similar on a real market and there was no danger of them being lost, overpaying Foyle and drafting Diogu? Those moves disqualify ‘great’.
by jae on Oct 8, 2009 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ugh
I just know Wright’s injury is going to hurt this year.
Warriors, Stupidest franchise in the league.
The Awesomeness That Is Captain Jack -
Jackson on wanting to be on a winner: "I’m made for the playoffs and the championships. I’m Big Shot Jack. That’s what I do."
Jackson on wanting out after extension: "Who’s going to turn down that money? I didn’t go to college, but I’ve got a lot of common sense."
by kenntoe on Oct 6, 2009 5:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
on a more positve note
Peter Vecsey of the New York Post asked Knicks president Donnie Walsh who he would have selected had he been able to acquire the fourth or fifth pick in the 2009 NBA draft: Stephen Curry or Ricky Rubio?
“Curry,” he said. “Not only is he a great shooter but he can get his shot on anyone. Opponents look at his baby face and figure they can manhandle him. Meanwhile he tore up every top-rated guard he went up against at our workout, including Tyreke Evans, who might be the best player in the draft next to Blake Griffin.”
by crab dribble cocktail on Oct 6, 2009 8:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
"Curry," he said. "
But does he want him bad enough to trade us David Lee and Chris Duhon for Curr-bury and SJax?
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 6, 2009 9:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Ignorance and Arrogance
in a single package. Keep it locked? You guys go to dinner too much. You have lost perspective.
by Marques8 on Oct 7, 2009 5:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
jackson for the prince?
No wonder jackson went behind mully’s back to get a big contract and then wants a trade now? he would not have gotten this kind of a contract if mully had traded him to the pistons. Now that looks like it would have been a good trade for the warriors a all around player without the emotional breakdowns that jackson has. But our boy genuis Bob Rowell fires mully and now jackson wants out wow great decision your getting exactly what you deserve when is coehn going to wake up and get rid of Rowell?
by call me master on Oct 8, 2009 11:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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