Riley quells rumors involving Stoudemire/Bosh

Before I begin I would just like to let you all know that this is my first FanPost, and I'm a little nervous to read your reactions. I've been reading since the beginning of this season, and have learned a ton from all of your (usually) insightful posts.

As most of you know, a frequent topic on GSoM is the speculation surrounding a big-time trade for a proven big-man. Many of you have argued for making such a blockbuster trade, stating that the possibility of attaining an all-star PF is worth whatever he costs. In my opinion, such a trade would be detrimental to the currently promising future of the Dubs.

After the jump I hope to silence two of the short-sighted trade proposals that have been debated tirelessly here.

It's no secret which two big-men are most coveted by the GSoM community:

The 2008 gold medalist, Chris Bosh.

via soulhonky.com

And the 2004 bronze medalist, Amare Stoudemire

via phoenix.fanster.com

Both of these players would provide a ton of low-post scoring, probably one of the only scoring deficiencies the current Dub's roster has at present. Obviously both these big-men are offensive powerhouses (Both player's career PPG Avg. are double Biedrins'), but is offense really what our roster is lacking?

Take a look at GM Larry Riley's take on the Warriors' deficiencies:

Tim Kawakami: What are two or three qualities you know this team needs?

Larry Riley: I think experience of course is really an issue. And we’re really not a good passing team. And it’s difficult to find guys who pass well and address the rebounding issue. But I think passing, rebounding and defense are really keys to us.

Some guys look at scoring right away. I think our team scores. We find ways to score. I think we could help our team with those issues right there.

6/22/2009

Pre-Draft Interview

One key deficiency our roster presents is lack of consistent rebounding. Biedrins (when healthy) is a solid boarder and averaged 11.2 RPG. In contrast, the above mentioned proven all-stars had lower RPG averages (Bosh: 10.0, Amare: a substantially lower 8.1). While this most recent season's stats are a bit skewed (due to Biedrins' extended presence on the DL), his presence on the defensive boards is impossible to overlook. Although an argument can be made that Biedrins' career RPG Avg. is a bit low at 8.2, it is weighed down by his limited minutes during his rookie and sophomore years.

Most trade proposals involving either Stoudemire of Bosh have obviously included Biedrins (would the Suns/Raps even consider a trade for either player without Beans?). So to oversimplify the trade, you could say that the Dubs would be giving up a solid rebounder and high-percentage scorer in return for an offensive presence on the low-post. Obviously the trade-offs aren't limited to offense vss. defense, but it can be boiled down to just that. While low-post scoring from either Amare or Bosh would be a huge plus to the Warriors' overall performance, I think the costs heavily outweigh the benefits.

Before either team would even consider such a trade, we would have to package Monta with either AR (if GM's see as much potential in him as I do) or Beans (the known producer). In any case, keeping in mind that both can walk at the end of the 2010 season, the gain of Amare/Bosh does not compensate for the loss of two of our young guns. In my opinion, such a trade would make us immediate contenders for the bottom 3 seeds in the West, nothing more. Obviously there is some doubt surrounding the development of both AR and Monta, but I think they can both become very productive players within the next two seasons.

So the question is, as a fan, would you rather lose some rebounding, and receive immediate post offense (for a season, then start all over again), or stay with our young core, and see where it takes us. I think a trade for either of these big men would hurt us severely after the first season. That's assuming, of course, that either player acquired does not resign with the Dubs. Instead of the Raptors dealing with the loss of Bosh, we will be doing so, and the Raptors will have two of our up and coming ballers.

While it is not necessarily set in stone, it comforted me to see that Riley believes in keeping our young core together. He, like me, does not see a trade for either Bosh or Stoudemire being beneficial to the Dubs past the initial season:

Kawakami: Would you be interested in trading for a guy who can become a free agent next summer?

Riley: I think the only way that that could happen is if you were allowed to negotiate beyond that point. It would be difficult for me to bring in a free agent who’s contract expires next summer and he walks away. Because you would have to give up a great deal in order to get that person and in doing so you gut your team and the guy walks away. I can’t do that.

I’ve got to know going into the thing that there’s some real likelihood that’s not going to happen. Does it have to be locked down 100%? Maybe not. But there’s got to be strong indications that we can do that.

Let’s say in order to get one of those guys you’ve got to trade one of your best players and maybe one of your draft picks and then that guy walks away… you’re toast. And we like our young kids and we like our team as it is. We want to add to it, but I wouldn’t want to take that gamble.

6/22/2009

Pre-Draft Interview