The Mullin Myths: Chris Mullin made the Warriors a franchise players wanted to join
by Atma Brother ONE on May 12, 2009 1:32 AM PDT
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The big word around The Town yesterday was that the Golden State Warriors elected to not renew one of their most popular players of all time Chris Mullin as a front office executive and decided to promote Don Nelson's right hand man Larry Riley to the GM spot [Warriors.com]. GSoMers have had a lot to say about the official transition.
For various possible reasons there seems to be a ton of myths about the Mullin front office era, perpetuated by the media at large (most of whom probably didn't know the first thing about the Warriors pre- 2007 NBA Playoffs) and some mostly bandwagon fan analysis plagued by a case of selective memory. Some of it romanticizes the 5 years of Mullin reign and some of it is simply unfair criticism.
Today's topic is the unfounded notion that Chris Mullin made the Warriors a franchise players wanted to join. Jump like you're dunking for some d-bunking.
One of the main contentions of the fans of Mullin's up and mostly down front office tenure is that he made the Warriors a desirable destination for players across the league.
If that were true, you'd expect to see some tangible benefits in terms of free agency and the trade market. A quick look back will show you that wasn't the case.
1) Al Harrington (summer of 2006)
For whatever reason Chris Mullin was in hot, hot, hot pursuit of Al Harrington in the summer of 2006. Harrington, a below average starting PF in the league at best, was the prize in Mullin's eyes. So what happened? Mullin's supposed magic didn't work and Al headed to Indiana, despite countless (and head scratching) attention and devotion. The rest is all history.
2) Allen Iverson
When the 76ers were ready to part ways with The Answer at the beginning of the 2006-2007 NBA season many teams and fans were going nuts trying to get him. Shoot I went absolutely nuts covering it. Sadly at one point AI straight up said he wasn't having any of the Dubs or Kings. Do you really think Iverson cared the least bit that Mullin was in the charge of the Warriors back then?
3) Kevin Garnett
KG to the Bay! (Sorry I just felt obligated to yell that for the one millionth time.)
Unfortunately we all know the sad ending to this tale after the Warriors struck out. Kevin Garnett's camp had a big chip in their hands with a looming extension coming up and the right to opt out. If Mullin really had that star power that made the Warriors a destination, don't you think KG would've used that chip and lobbied hard for a trade here? I have never heard anyone argue that Celtics front office man and former Celt Danny Ainge made Boston attractive for Garnett. To be honest I think the only thing that mattered here was Kevin McHale's never ending love for his NBA alma mattar and the respect Paul Pierce and Ray Allen carried around the league.
The funny thing about this one is that the Warriors actually offered Agent Zero more money than he actually signed for with the Wizards. In spite of the extra dead presidents, Mullin's supposed charm did absolutely nothing here.
After Boom's departure to Warriors South, Brand could've came to Clippers North to a ton of money- more than the Clip show could've offered. Instead he bolted to the Leastern Conference and red-shirted his first season. It would surprise me if Brand and his agent even spent more than a second caring that Mullin was the VP of the Warriors. It was about the money.
On the trade market the biggest fish Mullin netted were Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, and Al Harrington. For BD and Jack I don't think you can say either of those guys specifically wanted to play on the Warriors for Chris Mullin- both of them just wanted to catch the first train out of NOLA and Indy respectively. I'm sure both of the Hornets and Pacers wanted to send them packing ASAP as well. Remember this is just after a few short months when Harrington spurred Mullin and the Dubs in free agency, so it would be somewhat shocking if he was jumping out of seat to play for Mullie and the Dubs then.
The "big name" free agents that Mullin and his "big name" signed include Derek Fisher, Austin Croshere, Troy Hudson, Ronny Turiaf, and Corey Maggette. That's not exactly a "big deal." If that's what Mullin nets as an executive because of his famed playing career- who honestly cares? At the end of the day the Warriors paid for more for those guys than any other team in the entire association saw fit (and for good reason).
The supposed star power Mullin had during his 5 year tenure in the Warriors' front office and its translation into his ability to make the team a place impact players wanted to play is grossly exaggerated. Players don't care who is signing the checks or who is in charge of the front office. There's exceptions where some vets will come back from retirement or play for a slightly cheaper deal to play alongside superstars and chase a ring, but that's about it. The playing career of the members of the front office means next to nothing in making a team a more desirable place to play.
It's all about the dolla bills and w's ya'll.
This isn't to say that solely Mullin's impact as a former hoops star in the front office is overrated. The greatest basketball player to ever play the game Michael Jordan hasn't had much success either in his two stints with the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Bobcats in making them destinations for today's players. You didn't for the Wizards and don't for the Bobcats see any big names clamoring to play for MJ- and he's got that iconic hoops logo too.
Great for kicks and threads, but meaningless in the front office.
Give me a competent and talented basketball mind minus the "star power" a la Greg Poppovich when he first started in San Antonio or Donnie Nelson in Dallas than a big name ex-player who got a job he was never qualified for any day. Is new Warriors GM Larry Riley that guy? We'll find out soon enough.
(Two Dubs connections there in case you missed it- Pop moved from an assistant coach on the Warriors to the GM spot on the Spurs and Donnie is Nellie's son who oddly enough "doesn't smoke Cuban".)
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interesting
Ellis to the RIM!
Monta for the win?! YES!
by XIAOXIAO on May 12, 2009 2:06 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
interesting
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
by LostHawk on May 12, 2009 2:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
We Can't Underestimate Mullin's Influence...
on the drafting of rookies such as Biedrins who basically hid from other teams’ scouts so that he could end up in Oakland. His drafting of Montana Ellis was also out of nurturing that relationship first, from what I recall. Sure, we can look at Ike Diogu and say, “Ouch”. But the funny thing is that I remember an interview with Don Nelson on KNBR when he was out of coaching. He was asked about which Warrior rookies intrigued him…“Ike Diogu”!
We all hope our team becomes relevant again.
I think to judge Mullin fairly, we have to compare him to his recent predecessors in Oakland. The list of accomplishments from the previous individuals in the same position is not flattering. For that, I would say Mullin was more successful than others over the past 15 years.
"I've been accused of using too many words...I suppose that's like accusing Mozart of using too many notes." Bill King
by Gerard on May 12, 2009 6:30 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Perhaps we shouldn’t underestimate how much Mullin had to do in landing Biedrins, but we certainly can overestimate how much draft choices like Ellis indicate some skill in forecasting talent. If GMs are roughly equal in assessing talent (an ‘if’, I’m not saying they are) some will look smart for landing the steals and others will look dumb for passing on them. And over several drafts, a few will look brilliant for getting lucky on multiple occasions. That’s just the way probability works. We should never rule out that we’re over ascribing intent and skill to random events.
by jae on May 12, 2009 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly, that can be said about i'd think every GM.
People use draft picks however they want, to present their case of why their good or bad. Kind of how Atma has mentioned Diogu or O’Bryant in many of his posts about Mully.
by 123707THIZZ on May 12, 2009 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are right, in terms of GMs and their assessment of talent
But the NBA is unique in terms of how much difference 1 player can mean to a team or his impact upon the league. The fact that a good player may represent 1/5 of his team’s scoring, offensively (assuming he averages 20ppg and his team avgs 100ppg) is far reaching in terms of his impact.
The human element of developing relationships, such as between a scout and a foriegn player who develops a strong rapport and wants to be on that team is important. This is where Mullin has a skill that others in his position may or may not have. His influence was positive in the sense he identified some very young players and brought to the Warriors.
His poor record of over paying players such as Murphy, etc speaks for itself. My point is that if you take the team concept, lets say espoused by the Spurs, Mullin had an idea of trying to create that in Oakland by drafting, by enlarge a few decent really young players and allowed them to mature.
If this team is led by his draftees to the playoffs in the near future, then at least, we can give him credit for bringing them here.
"I've been accused of using too many words...I suppose that's like accusing Mozart of using too many notes." Bill King
by Gerard on May 13, 2009 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
One of the main contentions of the fans of Mullin’s up and mostly down front office tenure is that he made the Warriors a desirable destination for players across the league.
I’m not so sure that you’ll have anybody stopping by to back up this claim of yours that people think Mullin made this a destination FAs wanted to come to. You’d find some people who think BD, Jax, JRich, Barnes, and Nellie’s style made it an interesting place to consider as a FA, but I don’t recall ever hearing somebody say “Chris Mullin is the reason FAs want to play for the Warriors.” If you can find me 5 people whose opinions I might actually consider respecting, I’ll admit that I’m wrong. But it seems to me that you’re making up an argument when there isn’t one. You can bash Mullin all you want without this tactic, as there were certainly plenty of things he did poorly.
I thought he was turning a corner when he finished getting rid of the awful contracts he’d given out, played hardball with Pietrus, etc., but then they made some less than stellar moves this last season. Who knows who was in charge though, so you really have no idea where to lay the blame for all of those moves.
In short, I don’t have a problem with your bashing Mullin, he made plenty of mistakes in his tenure here and didn’t deserve to keep the job as long as he did. However, I don’t think anybody was out there claiming that Mullin made this a desirable destination. Maybe BD, Jax, and to a lesser extent Nellie did, but not Mullin.
"No no Nene!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB5DxNl4EB0
AB1=TK
by Dubs fan in Boston on May 12, 2009 6:54 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Interesting point
But I’m not sure I buy that. The poll is currently split 50-50 and this is straight out of MT’s recent piece:
Mullin’s crew contends he made the Warriors a franchise players wanted to join.
I think the larger theme here is what’s important. Having a big name front office exec in itself doesn’t buy you much if anything at all (e.g. Chris Mullin, Michael Jordan, or Larry Bird)- It’s all about the dolla bills and w’s ya’ll.
by Atma Brother ONE on May 12, 2009 9:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Your poll
Doesn’t have a third option:
“Other things besides Mullin made FAs interested in the Warriors”.
And my crew contends that I should be the next President of the United States… doesn’t make it true.
I think the larger theme here is what’s important. Having a big name front office exec in itself doesn’t buy you much if anything at all (e.g. Chris Mullin, Michael Jordan, or Larry Bird)- It’s all about the dolla bills and w’s ya’ll.
Yeah… you need to have a GM with enough basketball knowledge and enough management/financial/negotiation/budgetary knowledge. Often, NBA players don’t have the experience or education (How many NBA players do you know that A) Graduated and B) Earned a degree in something other than “general studies”, “communications”, or “physical education”… not that many) to work within a personal budget, let alone a corporate budget. Jordan – Geography, Bird – Phys. Ed., Mullin – Don’t know… but I guarantee you it wasn’t “Business”.
"No no Nene!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB5DxNl4EB0
AB1=TK
by Dubs fan in Boston on May 12, 2009 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And I think we're all forgetting
The Dub’s have a nasty habit of training someone, a player or in this case a GM, letting them make their mistakes and learn from them,then shoving them out the door just so they can succeed in another organization.
We are all going to scream bloody murder if in 2 years or so Mullin gets GM of the year or is even in the running.
There's a party in my mind.
And I wish that I was there.
by qin on May 12, 2009 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think that the “people fail with the Warriors, move on and succeed elsewhere” story is ridiculously overblown at this point. It happened more than one might expect for a while in the mid 90s, but recently not any more than it does for other teams. Mussleman did not learn from his Warrior mistakes with the Kings. The players who have moved on? Most don’t radically improve. Guys who have been ‘shoved out the door?’ They tend to do about what they did here, regardless of whether that was good or bad. Yeah, some guys will go on and improve. But many have (and will) move on and still not be good at their job, whether that’s as coach, GM, player, melted-orange-crayola-textured-nachos vendor. Fear that someone who isn’t excelling will, and thus you need to keep him out of that paranoia is a good recipe for retaining failure.
GM of the Year has been given to guys who have been brilliant and also to guys who have been lucky. Worry about giving up too soon on the first type, not the second. I’m rather certain that Mullin isn’t the first.
by jae on May 12, 2009 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t know what Kevin Pritchard majored in at KU, but he was an all-academic Big 8 (as it was at the time) which indicates that he at least went to class and cared somewhat. Dumars just recently finished his degree from McNeese St. What did Jerry West study at WVa? A business degree or a degree in general may not be necessary for doing a good job as GM, but having the sense to know your strengths and weaknesses and figuring out where and when to delegate is.
by jae on May 12, 2009 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Other things besides Mullin made FAs interested in the Warriors".
I think that’s exactly the point. Mullin’s ability to make the Warriors a franchise players wanted to join (just like other former hoops stars in the front office) is overrated.
Often, NBA players don’t have the experience or education (How many NBA players do you know that A) Graduated and B) Earned a degree in something other than "general studies", "communications", or "physical education"… not that many) to work within a personal budget, let alone a corporate budget. Jordan – Geography, Bird – Phys. Ed., Mullin – Don’t know… but I guarantee you it wasn’t "Business".
Agreed, so why put them in charge of a half billion dollar corporation? I think owners do it as a marketing tactic and publicity stunt to generate fan interest.
by Atma Brother ONE on May 12, 2009 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice post...
Overall it was a good read. My only issue is that, like DFiB, I think that
One of the main contentions of the fans of Mullin’s up and mostly down front office tenure is that he made the Warriors a desirable destination for players across the league.
Is a bit of a straw man. I’m not sure who exactly has rated Mullin highly in that regard. I know I wouldn’t.
I’m sure you could find someone who would claim that Mullin was a reason for FA to come here, but I haven’t really heard anyone using that as a reason for him being an effective GM.
Either way the point remains that the W’s are still not a particularly attractive destination for FA and the only likely way to change that is to have more $$ to offer than the next guy. It’s that or become a legit title contender and I don’t see that happening under the Riley/Nelson regime.
Thing 2
by olympicmike on May 12, 2009 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is a bit of a straw man. I’m not sure who exactly has rated Mullin highly in that regard. I know I wouldn’t.
i thought so too until i saw that 220 ppl or 48% (as of now) voted
ACCURATE: Mullie made the Warriors a place free agents and other team’s players wanted to be
by the evil monkey on May 12, 2009 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think that it was probably more desirable than before he had the job. It wasn’t as ugly as it was before, but it still wasn’t pretty.
by jae on May 12, 2009 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah...
I saw that, but I don’t think it really means that much. The original post makes it sound like it’s an argument that’s very commonly thrown around (a “main-contention”) to defend Mullin and I don’t think that’s the case.
I’m guessing a lot of people saw the poll as a pro-Mullin / anti-Mullin choice and just picked the one that made him sound good/bad. I don’t actually think that those 220+ people are going around arguing that Mullin made GS an attractive place for free agents to come and play.
Thing 2
by olympicmike on May 12, 2009 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh. Ok.
So MT worked in the front office/was an agent to several free agents these past few seasons? That’s why he’s such a credible source?
by ZaMzAm FiRe on May 12, 2009 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Warriors sponsered site
If this site isn’t the most home team bias site ever, I don’t know what is. Do we know for sure Mully threw cash at Gil and Brand? Comparing Larry Riley to Pop? Let’s see the history of this second round exit at best franchise….. one common factor for the Warriors downfall….. Chris Cohan….
Mully’s downfall… trying to get KG to make a serious run for years. When he struck out and was left with Wright instead of JRich, that pretty much killed the “We Believe” Warriors. Mully signed some bad contracts but he was playing with fire by bringing Nellie aboard. Give him credit for constructing a team that has only made the playoffs once in 15 years.
by GState21 on May 12, 2009 11:48 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
trying to get KG to make a serious run for years.
using your own argument… are we sure Mully really made a serious run at KG or was that just something Kawakami purported to advance his own agenda/credibility?
Mully’s best move was hiring Nellie… which some argue was also his worst move. the combo of Mully and Nellie was probably the best thing for the franchise, but there was the Rowell factor… either way neither Mully nor Nellie are likely to build a championship level team w/o getting lucky in a draft lottery which features a player of lebron, shaq, hakeem, dwight howard, magic, bird caliber.
by the evil monkey on May 12, 2009 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
people
are too quick on giving mullin credit for finding the players like buke, morrow, biedrins etc.
sure we have nice solid players but so what? are any of them superstars? no. they’re all just… solid players. Only randolph has the potential and maybe monta. Who else?
solid players get you the 8-14 pick in the draft consistently… we’re always picking in the same spot because we always depend on our solid players.
by saintdee on May 12, 2009 12:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Can't expect to find 3-5 superstars out of the blue...
and assemble them with a snap of your fingers.
Or easily steal a Derrick Rose and Lebron in the draft.
We did have Baron that I’m sure Mullin wanted to keep as part of his future plans. We had the 2007 Playoffs and we had an exciting 48 win during the 2007-08 season that we just didn’t make the 08 playoffs.
The Warriors were heading in the right direction which we were only one good piece away from being a serious threat to the league.
If you want to put ALL the blame on Mullin, then go ahead. I guess everybody else in the FO was taking long naps and scratching their a**ses the whole time the Warrior organization was slowly deconstructing.
Romes Mac Mojous
by ROMESdavidWOOD37 on May 12, 2009 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i am not even talking about d-rose and lebron
what about normal superstars like danny granger? can we get one of those? why are we like the only team that had 0 read ZERO representation at the all star game?
by saintdee on May 12, 2009 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think we were very close to drafting Granger.
I think Mullin really liked him during the draft but thought Ike Diogu was going to fit better with us.
You can add that to Mullin’s mistakes because looking at it now it is a huge miss.
I honestly really wanted Granger during that time of the draft, but when we got Diogu instead, I was still happy with the pick. I thought he was going to provide us with that inside post, rebounding, shotblocking and inside banger we desperately needed. He did show potential that he could have been great for us, especially during that one game vs. rasheed wallace and the Pistons. Ike straight up dominated Sheed that he didn’t know what the hell to do with him. 27 points. 7 rebounds. in 31:37minutes of play. Rookie Year. That was also against a very good Pistons team when they still had Ben Wallace.
Nellie didn’t like him, broke his confidence and is now trying to prove himself worthy on the Kings.
I understand your frustration that the Warriors always seem to pass up superstars, or we always find potential stars and find a way to give them away to other teams. It sucks. All we can do as fans is sadly watch it happen everytime.
We can blame the Front Office as a whole and not just Chris Mullin…in my opinion.
As for your question with the all star game, I could care less about that because there are alot of players that get snubbed from being there. BD got snubbed the 07-08 year. J-Rich got snubbed a couple times. Who knows how Monta woulda played last regular season if he didnt get injured. Maybe he coulda been an allstar.
Hopefully we keep AR (it’s so stupid that we have to even worry about losing him even though it seems like he is going to stay) because I see him being an allstar soon and hope its as a Warrior.
The concentration should be more focused on constructing a post season team, a solid core, a great chemistry within the players and coaches. Hard to do so with a piece of feces front office.
Romes Mac Mojous
by ROMESdavidWOOD37 on May 12, 2009 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the biggest problem with mullin was
He only aimed to make the warriors, the warriors of RUN TMC. Hiring Nelson, bringing in players who play that style. Entertaining? Of course. Effective at reaching nba finals or challenging for finals? NO. And therefor no player concerned with winning ever wanted to come to golden state. Aside from the superstar. you are going to have a hard time signing a mle who could be a valuable defender, rebounder (for ex) if he got same offer from say…. san antonio. Why? Because he knows the system san antonio runs will give him opportunity to win. The system GSW runs will not.
Its the biggest problem with golden state. mullin bought into it, and its still here after he leaves BECAUSE of Don Nelson. Warriors are a gimmick offense, fun and gun team that wont ever win anything sustantial. Theres no D in On Nelson etc etc. It starts at the top, and when ur management shows clear signs winning a championship is not its #1 goal, it trickles down.
by tafkasam on May 12, 2009 1:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Somethig tells me this poll is being padded by every pc at Warriors HQ.
DAMAGE CONTROL! DAMAGE CONTROL!
Chris Cohan and Robert Rowell? Oh no hide the children!
by Nuck Chorris on May 12, 2009 1:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
You always mention Bandwagon fans are the ones who love Mullin and hate Nelson
How does that make even a little sense? Most bandwagon fans wouldnt even know who Mullin is (or even still be here). And wouldnt they be the ones who love Nelson, seeing as how that would be the only coach they’ve know? And long time Warriors fan not liking Nelson, seeing as how we’ve seen all this before?
by 123707THIZZ on May 12, 2009 2:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
A more accurate way of looking at this is........
Did the presence of Mullin ALONE cause free agents to want to play for the Warriors? I doubt you would find anyone who would try to argue this point.
However, the title of this post (“Chris Mullin made the Warriors a franchise players wanted to join”) could be taken in another ways.
One could argue that it was Mullin that constructed the Warriors into the team that upset the Mavs in the playoffs. He got Nellie out of retirement and got Baron. Mullin got rid of Dunleavy, Murphy and brought in Sjax/Harrington which led to the playoffs. One could argue that it was Nellie that orchestrated this, but thus far, I haven’t heard Nellie (or his supporters) claim credit for that move.
With the Warriors creating excitement after that season, the Warriors (in the eyes of others) could have become a better destination for free agents. I note that the AI, Harrington, Brand and Arenas arguments were used. That’s really fine, but we don’t know if Mullin made the choice to go after Brand, Arenas and of course Maggette. This also happened after Baronw as let go. Though I think letting Baron was the right move, one could argue that if Baron had stayed, the team would still be fairly attractive. Sans Baron, there was young talent, but none as proven.
Unfortunately, there isn’t anyway to prove or disprove this argument because Mullin is no longer in charge. However, I think I saw Mullin’s strategy. He felt he needed to build a decent foundation to bring interest to the Warriors. I think he at least succeeded to that aspect. Alas, I wish he would have gotten a chance to “finish the job”.
by coach41 on May 12, 2009 2:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
MULLIN'S 5 YEARS COMPARED TO PREVIOUS 5 YEARS
Best Trade Acquisitions:
Mullin: Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, Brandon Wright, Dale Davis
Prev 5: Cliff Robinson, Mookie Blaylock, Troy Murphy draft pick, Larry Hughes, Nick van Exel, Bob Sura
Best Outside Free Agent Signings:
Mullin: Derek Fisher, Matt Barnes, Azubuike, Watson, Maggette, Turiaf, Morrow
Prev 5: Earl Boykins, Calbert Cheaney, Brian Cardinal
Best Draft Picks
Mullin: Biedrins #11, Ellis #40, Bellinelli #18, Randolph #14
Prev 5: Peitrus #11, Dunleavy #3, JRich #5, Troy Murphy #14, Arenas #31,
Best Coach Hire
Mullin: Nelson
Prev 5: Eric Mussleman
by MAGEJOHNSEN on May 12, 2009 3:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
So now we know Mullin was better than Garry St. Jean. Hell of a recommendation that is!
by jae on May 12, 2009 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The point is not that he was better than Gary St. Jean. The point is that Mullin was a huge improvement over anyone the Warriors have had under Cohen’s ownership. That Mullin is gone and Rowell stays is a travesty.
by MAGEJOHNSEN on May 13, 2009 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
How exactly was I supposed to come to the answer that the point wasn’t that he was better than Garry (2 r’s) St. Jean when the post compared Mullin to what happened before, when Garry St. Jean was in charge? If that wasn’t the point, I haven’t a clue what that was there for.
That Rowell is still here might be a travesty. That has no bearing on Mullin being gone being a better or worse move. The question for the team, beyond some sort of morality play that you seem to be suggesting, is whether or not the job Mullin was doing was of significantly high standards to warrant keeping him. What his predecessors did here doesn’t matter. They were terrible. Being better than them alone shouldn’t be cause for endless praise unless the standard for success you set is simply being better than the absolute worst. I’m not impressed enough with that to let any comparisons with the previous regime mean anything at all.
by jae on May 13, 2009 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
according
to fitz, riley scouted buke, watson etc etc.
by saintdee on May 12, 2009 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nelson’s story about Azubuike suggests that Mullin made that call, given his strange story about how Mullin called him up, asked him what he thought of something that Nellie thought sounded like sambuca.
I suspect that we’ll hear a variety of stories about who did what in the near future, with those coming from official Warrior sources indicating that Riley had his hands in every good move and Mullin being responsible for the bad ones. Some of them might even have some semblance to reality, but I wouldn’t put a whole lot of faith in them for a while.
by jae on May 13, 2009 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
ok...
Chris Mullin made the Warriors a franchise players wanted to join.
Probably not. But I’m inclined to think that if everything is equal..dollars and sense, comparable roster etc etc…Mullin being an ex NBA player could tilt the balance between a free agent signing here or elsewhere.
It is probably low on the totem pole but nonetheless a factor. Totally disregarding this fact is wrong IMO.
Mullin > Twardzelman, St Jean et.al
That’s not saying a lot but cmon.
In closing, good luck Mullin. YOU BEING THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT WARRIOR IN THE PAST 25 YEARS WILL NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU.
perspectives..perspectives
my code name is "kelenna bahongpuki"
by VonteegoCummings on May 12, 2009 5:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
with that said...
that press conference just reinforced my belief that Rowell is an A1-A-hole. May God help us…..
my code name is "kelenna bahongpuki"
by VonteegoCummings on May 12, 2009 5:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Weak post & argument
just sad really…
"To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you're not, pretend you are." - Muhammad Ali
by Dubs Wise on May 12, 2009 5:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Just a clarification
The Warriors offered Gilbert 5 years/$100 million, he got 6 years/$111 million from Washington. He would’ve gotten more per year if he had signed with Golden State, but he got more overall money with Washington.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by JakeTheSnake on May 12, 2009 5:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
FYI.......
Since this vote is nearly 50/50 split and there are fans who both liked and disliked Mullin, may I suggest that fans voice their opinions to the Warriors? Some have written letters directly, but also send some emails and make your opinion known:
My opinion of the Mullin matter (regardless if you thought he did a good job or not) was that the Warriors could have handled the situation much better than they did.
by coach41 on May 12, 2009 7:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
My opinion of the Mullin matter (regardless if you thought he did a good job or not) was that the Warriors could have handled the situation much better than they did.
That about sums it up. Mullin was not an elite management talent worth doing everything to save and preserve. Others should be able to do as well or better. But he handled himself with class, didn’t do a terrible job, and deserved better treatment than to be slowly stripped of responsibility while being kept around in case there was someone that needed to take some blame. He deserved better, even if he didn’t deserve to keep the job.
by jae on May 12, 2009 10:51 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Atma, you're the last guy to talk about the bandwagon.
I remember a post from this season where you said something about not caring about the Warriors anymore.
by ZaMzAm FiRe on May 12, 2009 10:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I really dont understand
How anybody could vote that he made other players/Fa’s want to come here.
I dont have a problem with Mullin, he didnt start out well but seemed to learn the job and got better as time went by but where are all these players that wanted to come here? I think if there really where any, they must have had better options
by azw on May 13, 2009 12:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The choices weren’t really clear. You vote so if you think that he made it more of a place people would want to come, i.e. better than when Saint was in charge. That doesn’t mean that it’s desirable, it’s just a less remote Siberian outpost.
by jae on May 13, 2009 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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