Q&A: Tim Kawakami (Mercury)- End of 2008-2009 GSW Season (Part 1 of 2)
There's no one more actively and passionately blogging about the Golden State Warriors than Tim Kawakami right now. There is no offseason for this man. Don't believe me? Check it out.

Pointed analysis of Bay Area sports.
Jump for the first part of our end of the Warriors season Q&A with Tim.
Atma Brother #1 (Golden State of Mind): It has only been 2 seasons since that unbelievable run in the spring of 2007 for the Warriors. In such a short time they have fallen far and even the biggest homers (fans or Warriors employees) have to realize that it is going to be incredibly difficult if not near impossible for the Warriors to crack the West's top 8 next season, let alone win a round in the playoffs. Essentially to get younger, avoid the luxury tax, and build around Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins, the Warriors blew up the ship by trading away Jason Richardson and letting Baron Davis, Mickael Pietrus, and Matt Barnes depart via free agency. Al Harrington was also traded, but that seemed to be a result of him refusing to show up and his beef with Coach Don Nelson. After finally making the playoffs after 12 straight misses and fielding what was commonly regarded as the most entertaining team in the league, was it worth it? Do you think the big names in the Warriors hierarchy (Chris Cohan, Robert Rowell, Chris Mullin, and Don Nelson) have any specific regrets about those trades and departures after a season in which they failed to win 30 games?
Tim Kawakami: All those things happened. The results were the results. So it can seem like it was a plan. But I'm going to disagree: These things, put together, were not planned. It was pure, classic Warriors ad-hoc decision-making, with the plan changing every time depending on who was making the call (Mullin? Rowell? Nelson?), how much money was involved, and what was deemed wisest at that moment.
I mean, you can't really see a coherent plan if the Warriors were single-mindedly shedding money by trading Richardson and letting Baron, Barnes and Pietrus go... then threw $50M at Corey Maggette and $27M to Stephen Jackson, in addition to the two years he was already signed for.
That is not a plan. That's ad-hoc semi-panicked multi-agenda decision-making, generally designed to field a team that fans will pay to see and also stay well under the luxury tax. All layered by different agendas.
Was it worth it? It'll all depend on three things, I think (not counting the Nelson drama):
-Will Ellis and Biedrins be worth the long-term money? If they turn into near-All-Stars by next year or two, then this is probably going to be a decent team for a while. If they're not, then this team is in money trouble.
-How good will Anthony Randolph be? He could cover up a lot of problems. Or he could be just another decent player who helps, but doesn't lift the team. We'll see. A key, key player who might be the best one.
-Can they get a point guard to play alongside Ellis? I've been yammering about that one for a while now--it's a tough profile, I admit. Ellis can't guard the big guys, but he has to play the two on offense. So you need a smart point guard who can guard twos... and that is not easy to find. Baron was one of them. I thought Jamal Crawford might sort of be another. But he wasn't.
If two or all of those questions are answered successfully, then I don't think Rowell will have any regrets for anything that happened, though I guess he ridiculously now claims he was always against the Richardson trade. Yeah, he sure took his sweet time getting around to that conclusion.
Rowell was moving away from Mullin, anyway. As far as Nelson, I won't guess at his regrets.
Atma Brother #1 (Golden State of Mind): Are the Warriors convinced that Andris Biedrins, Monta Ellis, Brandan Wright, Marco Belinelli, Anthony Randolph, and Anthony Morrow are a solid young core that will propel this team to become a playoff mainstay and a force to be reckoned with? Do you think they are simply content to let these players develop and see how it goes? Which if any of these young players will they be looking to move this summer?
Tim Kawakami: That question presumes there is a single "Warriors" mentality. Which I do not believe exists, or at least not until Cohan and Rowell anoint a GM. And even then, you have Nelson, who always has his own thoughts and controls the playing time.
Do I think management generally likes its young pieces? Yes, the Warriors always love their young pieces. Every year for the last decade or more, all we've heard is that they love their young pieces. If Randolph explodes, then they will be correct this time.
If it's up to Nelson, and I think a lot of it will be, I'd assume Brandan Wright and Belinelli are heavily shopped, though I can't imagine there's a big market for either.
Atma Brother #1 (Golden State of Mind): Many folks have been very critical of the job Don Nelson did this past season. You fairly openly called for his firing and questioned many of his moves. Which coaches if any could have done better with this roster given the injuries and other excuses by the organization (legitimate or exaggerated) this past season? Could any other coach have led this squad to the 2009 NBA Playoffs?
Tim Kawakami: Hmm, was this question written by Don? By Lucky?
I know, I know, I'm so darned unfair. I expect coaches to concentrate on defense and not play trick offensive systems if the roster is suited to play standard line-ups and not freeze out talented young big men and not try to force Jamal Crawford to use his opt-out to leave.
I threw out Mike D'Antoni's name when Phoenix made him available last spring and guess what, he was available. I'd take him over just about anybody. I think D'Antoni would've been interested--if the Warriors could've made their move before the Knicks jumped in, but the Warriors almost never make moves like that.
Until a few weeks ago, Flip Saunders was available. I would've taken him. Eddie Jordan, too. I know everybody here loves running basketball, so maybe Jeff Van Gundy is out, but I'd think he's going to coach again and he'll get that team playing defense.
Make the playoffs this year? Nobody could've done that after losing Baron and after Ellis got hurt. I don't think that's the point. The point is finding a coach who is best for the roster and best for the long-term, and once Baron was gone, I don't think Nelson was that guy.
**********
Stay tuned for the next installment of our Q&A with Tim!
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42 comments
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Comments
We could live without his pearls.
If we found a way to get Lebron TK would find a reason why it wasn’t a good move.
by dungeness crabdribble on May 6, 2009 10:41 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
Can you ask him why he stopped trying to be a real reporter, and started making up his own rumors to draw attention to himself? Does he really want to work for ESPN THAT badly?
Thing A
by sam23 on May 6, 2009 11:19 PM PDT reply actions 4 recs
There wasn't even a veiled attempt at talking about basketball in that entire interview.
Here’s how TK seemed to interpret the questions:
Question 1: “Do you hate the FO, or do you really hate them?”
Question 2: “Do you really think the FO is stupid enough to think they can stand pat with the young guys they’ve got?”
Question 3: “We know you hate Nellie, talk about it.”
"No no Nene!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB5DxNl4EB0
AB1=TK
by Dubs fan in Boston on May 7, 2009 7:23 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Mr. Speculation Ejaculator
What’s the old saying? Fool me once….. fool me twice?…. Atma how many times have you been fooled by TK?
Let’s see.. just off the top of my head…here are a few of TK’s reportings:
1) Nelson won’t last the season. He’s trying to get fired.
2) Ellis will never play for the W’s again
3) Last year post… “It’s all about Baron”, Warriors is clearing cap space so they can match any offer for Baron.
4) This follows the year before post " It’s about KG", TK swears if we only drafted Thronton, we had a deal. Mullin’s later reply to questions: “Negotiations never got serious. Didn’t seem like Minnesota was interested in making any deal with the W’s.”
5) From TK’s post this week: Rowell told Jackson to fire his agent Fagen if Jackson wanted an extension.
6) Heavily implying that Randolph won’t play for Nelson.
Feel free to add more to this list of fantasies from Mr. T. K. Rowling.
by JSML on May 6, 2009 11:48 PM PDT reply actions 4 recs
What you call “reportings”, I call opinions/conjecture. I don’t think he ever reported some of this stuff, he offered what he thought might happen based on the information he had. There’s a big difference.
by Fantasy Junkie on May 7, 2009 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
Talking Points is the editorial/ opinion page. It’s not the AP for “what’s new” and it’s not the work of a beat writer, but rather a columnist.
by Atma Brother ONE on May 7, 2009 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
TK has most definitely brought up those "issues" in his "opinions/conjecture"
The problem is that he has, for some reason, been given a podium from which to disseminate his “opinions/conjecture.” There is plenty of evidence that suggests that his “opinions/conjecture” are incorrect (Nellie still having a job, Monta playing for the Warrior, etc.). He’s wrong more often than he is right, and he always seems to write the most sensational story he can find in an effort to get clicks. The only way I can maintain even a shred of respect for the guy is if he’s trying to show ESPN that he’s good at getting people to click on his stories and have them give him a job. Because, if not for that, he’s just an attention… female escort, plain and simple. Whether he’s “reporting” or providing “opinions/conjecture”, he’s disseminating made up rumors, passing along other rumors he’s heard, and writing the most sensational piece of journalism he possibly can without, you know, actually checking that what he says has even a shred of basis in reality. Sure, like a blind squirrel he’ll be right every now and then, but that’s like saying McHale is a good GM because he drafted KG.
"No no Nene!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB5DxNl4EB0
AB1=TK
by Dubs fan in Boston on May 7, 2009 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Reporting vs. editorializing
Here’s why I don’t think you can just brush off TK’s pieces as editorializing: He introduces information that he claims is factual, based on what his “sources” and “insiders” tell him.
Incidentally, I have a source that tells me DFiB is, in fact, from New York. Is that my opinion? No, it’s not, and also, my source is full of bologne, and may or may not even exist at all. Good thing you can’t prove one way or the other!
by ffgolden on May 7, 2009 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ok ok
I finally gave up and read the article. It’s not a matter about whether or not it’s true, or who his sources are. It’s more about the fact that Tim Kawakami = Negative Nancy. Like dungeness crabdribble wrote at the top
If we found a way to get Lebron TK would find a reason why it wasn’t a good move.
by VERY VERY BUSY on May 7, 2009 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t mind if the guy is negative about the team….because the team has been pretty crappy for a long, long time. My problem is how he goes about it. DFiB pretty much nailed it above.
Thing A
by sam23 on May 8, 2009 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also agreed.
It’s not like the team is offering up the truth. If the team isn’t going to be honest or forthright with information then I’ll consider the most informed opinions and conjecture that are offered.
Chris Cohan and Robert Rowell? Oh no hide the children!
by Nuck Chorris on May 7, 2009 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
What the team has offered up has been a whole lot more accurate, if not more truthful, than what Kawakami has been reporting for the last 2 years. In his Warrior related reporting there just seems to be an overall lack of any attempt at integrity.
Thing A
by sam23 on May 8, 2009 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
fire nellie?
ya right, he hada bad situation this season. didnt have the right guys he needed. long term? why do you think hes been train smart so much as a head coach
by nateoak10 on May 6, 2009 11:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
i just read his article
BS
ak would work with us easily?i agree him an anthony wouldnt work well but by dumping maggs, crawford, a possibly marco this is what we can get
pg:me8, draft pick
sg:jak,ammo
sf:buike,ak47
pf:randolph, wright
c:beans,ronny
fill in the rest with free agents. assuming were healthy i say a good 44+ wins. then the next year when the youth gets to become more veteran savy that could be a 48+win team. an if monta turns into an allstar that could be 50+ wins
by nateoak10 on May 7, 2009 12:01 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Is that really better than the team we have?
Keep in mind they didn’t play one game healthy or all together this season, so we don’t even know what they’re capable of. We could keep Marco, Crawford, and Maggette coming off the bench, instead of just AK47, and our starters are the same, how is the lineup you have better?
by myk on May 12, 2009 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
s**t travels downhill
We all know what Tim thinks and feels about the Dub’s FO and Nelson. People will either agree with him or not. But what I saw happen in the last year is an ego driven club President starting to leave his ugly philistine fingerprints all over the Love Boat and turned it into the Titanic. Simplistically, all of the problems of the Dubs started when Rowell intervened with Baron. We will never know how good or bad Baron would have played this last season if he would have stayed with the Warriors. Some people point to his fat decline in LA as a justification that Rowell was correct; but that is pure speculation. Futhermore, once Baron opted out, Rowell went out and got Maggette. And we know how that worked out. I could easily be wrong, but if Baron would have stayed in Oakland, then perhaps Harrignton would have been happier and we wouldn’t have ended up with Crawford. Now we have two large contracts with very one dimensional volume shooting non-defending players which I content would never have happened if Rowell’s ego hadn’t intervened with the Davis negotiations.
No matter what anyone thinks of Tim K, he has the facts on his side. We sucked big time this year and dug a very deep hole which we may or may not be able to dig out of. Ironically, if Rowell appoints Riley GM/VP, as it seems, once again we will most likely not have the intelligent leadership to craft a team good enough to make the playoffs in the West. As much as I can’t stand Nelson for so many reasons, Rowell has to take at least 80% of the blame for the current demise of the franchise.
Let Tim rant and rave. He has lots of good reasons to be upset on behalf of fan far too loyal to this totally dysfunctional franchise from the top down.
We Believe We Were Deceived
by commish on May 7, 2009 9:11 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Umm...
I’ll start with the most egregious lies first:
No matter what anyone thinks of Tim K, he has the facts on his side
This is just funny. See JSML’s list for all the times TK has “had the facts on his side” and been wrong. Saying TK uses facts is like saying MJ and Pete Rose don’t gamble. If you believe TK utilizes “facts,” I’ve got some copper engravings of Lincoln to sell you, they’re only $17.99+S&H, and they’re set to skyrocket in value! Hit me up at pennysRus.com.
Now we have two large contracts with very one dimensional volume shooting non-defending players which I content would never have happened if Rowell’s ego hadn’t intervened with the Davis negotiations.
Show me how, in any way shape or form, Corey Maggette is a “volume shooter”. The term applies to guys who score a lot by shooting a lot, but not very efficiently. Of the players that scored more than 10PPG, Maggette was in the top 6 in scoring efficiency out of the entire NBA for this last season. If you’re not referring to Maggette and instead referring to Jax, then you should have either mentioned him earlier in the paragraph at least once or clearly stated that you were talking about a third player, separate from the two you’d already mentioned. Additionally, comparing Maggette’s and Crawford’s defense is like comparing a 2’6" midget’s height to that of an average woman. Sure, neither of them are “NBA tall”, but one is far, far shorter than the other.
We will never know how good or bad Baron would have played this last season if he would have stayed with the Warriors. Some people point to his fat decline in LA as a justification that Rowell was correct; but that is pure speculation.
No. Pointing to factual performance is not speculation. It may not be the best evidence, but it’s actual evidence. Speculating that he may have played differently in a different city is the definition of speculation (akin to saying: “Well, if Mickelson had got up on the other side of the bed a few weeks ago, he’d have taken out the 8 iron instead of plunking that 9 iron into the water”). Also corroborating the suggestion that Baron might not have been a great signing at $18M+$39M= $57M/5 years is the FACT that he’d averaged ~60 games/year the last 5 years, and miraculously played all 82 (even fighting through injuries) in the only year he was looking for a new contract. Interestingly enough, before that, the last time he’d played over 70 games in a season was the LAST year before he signed a contract. Coincidence? I doubt it. It’s not great evidence, sure, but it’s real evidence. The only evidence supporting your counterpoint is that he’s notorious for butting heads with coaches he doesn’t get along with, which certainly effected both his performance in LA (negatively) and in GSW (positively).
"No no Nene!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB5DxNl4EB0
AB1=TK
by Dubs fan in Boston on May 7, 2009 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Let's be consistent
Futhermore, once Baron opted out, Rowell went out and got Maggette. And we know how that worked out.
From Tim’s earlier interview with us:
Inking free agent Corey Maggette to a 5 year $50 million deal
Everybody was on board for this one, too, but mostly as a desperation move. Once Baron was gone and Arenas turned down Rowell’s insta-offer of $105M, Rowell and Mullin figured they had to land somebody to put the ball in the bucket and make defenses react. Best player for that they could find: Maggette. His price tag: $50M, to go over the top of San Antonio’s mid-level bid.
It’s easy to just blame every bad thing on Rowell and paint Mullin as a saint, but that’s somewhat of a copout. Both have made mistakes this past season, namely Rowell and the Jackson extension and Mullin with that silly Marcus Williams trade. In all honesty, I wouldn’t let either run my front office if I was an owner. Neither has shown to be that bright. Mullin’s interviews (he doesn’t do them anymore) are absolutely painful to listen to. Rowell’s "fan relations" are incredibly poor and his resume doesn’t exactly impress me. Neither have legit credentials to have the positions they have.
Ironically, if Rowell appoints Riley GM/VP, as it seems, once again we will most likely not have the intelligent leadership to craft a team good enough to make the playoffs in the West.
I don’t understand the sentiment that Riley isn’t intelligent or even a step down from Mullin. Vancouver was a tough situation no doubt, but he was with Nellie through the Mavs revival. That’s infinitely more experience and credibility than Mullin brought to the table after his "tutelage" under Gary St. Jean. I’m not saying he’s a superstar GM or a proven commodity, but if he has Nellie’s approval and it means more consistent thought and improved communication between the head coach (floor product) and the front office (roster management) , then that’s a very good thing.
by Atma Brother ONE on May 7, 2009 10:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
not sure, but...
wasn’t GSJean a “nellie guy” too?
by ihatenellie on May 7, 2009 11:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Garry was a long-time Nellie assistant before landing the job coaching in Sac.
by jae on May 8, 2009 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
There is blame to go around, and this itself is a big part of the problem. Everyone makes mistakes. At best, your strong moves cover up some of the mistakes because you’ve got a cohesive vision. This last year with the 3 or 4 headed monster calling the shots in the front office, the mistakes stood out as each one was made seemingly oblivious to how poorly the move would fit in with the rest of the moves. It’s not like this shouldn’t have been expected either. Simply having one person who is marginally competent in charge will be an improvement.
That’s infinitely more experience and credibility than Mullin brought to the table after his “tutelage” under Gary St. Jean.
The ‘grooming’ of Mullin for the job always bothered me. Whether or not we can ascertain from his interviews if Mullin is bright or not (and I agree, he doesn’t sound like the sharpest tack), ‘grooming’ someone under a dysfunctional regime for a very, very difficult job of righting a sinking ship, seems strange. Maybe they assumed that Saint was a good teacher in the “those who can’t, teach” sort of way.
by jae on May 8, 2009 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The ‘grooming’ of Mullin for the job always bothered me. Whether or not we can ascertain from his interviews if Mullin is bright or not (and I agree, he doesn’t sound like the sharpest tack), ‘grooming’ someone under a dysfunctional regime for a very, very difficult job of righting a sinking ship, seems strange. Maybe they assumed that Saint was a good teacher in the "those who can’t, teach" sort of way.
Agreed that never made one iota of sense to me. We’re talking about a half billion dollar corporation. Who hires a VP to learn on the job especially when he’s not qualified? It’s not like Mullin was some hot graduate straight out of some top school either.
What the Warriors are supposedly doing to Mullin, freezing him out and not caring too much about his input— although from the reports it appears it’s a combo of him not showing up to work and Rowell/ Cohan freezing him out— is basically what they did to St. Jean at the end of his tenure.
by Atma Brother ONE on May 8, 2009 3:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
By reports of him not showing up to work your mean
the unsubstantiated comments that TK spews?
There's a party in my mind.
And I wish that I was there.
by qin on May 8, 2009 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
although from the reports it appears it’s a combo of him not showing up to work and Rowell/ Cohan freezing him out
Where did you see that reported?
Thing 2
by olympicmike on May 9, 2009 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mullin: Shadow of his former self (MT II)
His sandy red flattop no longer is a common sight in his suite at Oracle Arena.
He once was a regular at Warriors practices. Now that’s a rarity, which also would describe his shoot-around attendance.
Chris Mullin, the Warriors executive vice president of basketball operations, is a ghost.
“I’ve hardly seen him,” one player said. “Where’s he been? I think I have seen him maybe twice.”
Conversely, some quietly contend Mullin hasn’t been held accountable for his mistakes. They criticize him for wasting money, poor communication.
Others say Rowell has been waiting for Mullin to reclaim his job, to jump back in and be part of the fold again.
“People have been waiting for him to do his job,” one Rowell supporter said. “Sure, they had some disagreements and he was overruled on some stuff. But he could have sucked it up and showed up.”
I believe there’s another piece by Monte Poole that presents similar viewpoints.
by Atma Brother ONE on May 9, 2009 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Van Gundy?
If either one of the brothers is mentioned in the same sentence as our beloved club I will move to Portland.
by warriorsvictim on May 7, 2009 11:45 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
one of them can’t find coaching work and the other has half the players who ever played for him questioning his ability to lead a team……
Thing A
by sam23 on May 8, 2009 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
JVG
The guy’s coaching style is a real snore but I think he’s a pretty good coach. I’d hate to have to watch a JVG coached team 82 times a year though. Ouch.
Thing 2
by olympicmike on May 9, 2009 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
Anyone who actually read that post is my Hero! At the first site of the name Tim Kawakami I completley stopped reading.
FYI, I visit this site between 5-10 times per day, I look for anything of any sort of relevance to help eat away at my day of work, yes I am a Warrior Junkie. But I would rather read a post about whether peanut butter jelly sandwhiches are better than tuna sandwhiches, than read a post by Tim Kakawaki.
by VERY VERY BUSY on May 7, 2009 1:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Ummm...
I vote for Tuna
There's a party in my mind.
And I wish that I was there.
by qin on May 7, 2009 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like a little red onion and relish in my tuna
by dungeness crabdribble on May 7, 2009 11:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Peanut Butter and Banana.....fried
Elvis Style.
by Aisander D on May 8, 2009 8:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I try to live by the saying "Don't knock it till you try it" but....
I don’t think I’ll be trying that anytime soon.
by VERY VERY BUSY on May 9, 2009 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dysfunctional Mess
I love people getting on TK and forgetting the real issue here, which is the dysfunctional mess that is the Warriors..Thanks to the trifecta of Cohan, Nelson & Rowell, this franchise is a disaster..Nelson is a senile old goat who is the worse possible fit for a young team..I cannot count how many times he made a complete fool of himself, here’s a couple, telling a player in the press to opt out of a contract that he knew the player would never opt out of, terrible and unnecessary, letting your assistant coach, coach at least 10% of the games this season(way to not earn that ridiculous salary), letting Monte Ellis make a complete fool out of you, by sulking during games and not being part of timeout huddles, and basically turning you off..Rowell giving a stupid extension to Jackson and the panic signing of Magette..This what fans should be focusing on, not if TK
was making things up..
Cohan needs to sell the team and take the old goat and Rowell with him and this franchise might be able to be fixed..As long as these three idiots run things, we are doomed..
by The Sear on May 7, 2009 2:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm sorry i have to ask......
Tim is that you? I’m sorry but I’m on this site at least an hour everyday and I’ve never seen you post, I could be wrong though.
by VERY VERY BUSY on May 7, 2009 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
the thing is we all know the warriors are a dysfunctional mess, we’ve been talking about that for 2 decades. But crappy, sensationalist reporting doesn’t really help either. If you write about a dysfunctional mess does it give you the right to make whatever kind of garbage you want to sell papers and pimp your name? .
Thing A
by sam23 on May 8, 2009 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I try to live by the saying "Don't knock it till you try it" but....
I don’t think I’ll be trying that one any time soon.
by VERY VERY BUSY on May 9, 2009 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

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