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Pre-2009 NBA Draft Golden State Warriors Linkage Madness- An unstoppable assortment of Golden State Warriors related links in preparation for the 2009 NBA Draft.

OPEN THREAD: Pre-2009 NBA Draft- Running pre-draft and pre-Warriors pick commentary.

With the 7th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors select... STEPHEN CURRY!

BREAKING NEWS: Warriors and Hawks closing in on Jamal Crawford for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton swap- Maybe Speedy Claxton can help us bring back Baron Davis again? 

Exploring the rumored Crawford for Claxton and Law Trade: CBA and salary implications- The CBA... where amazing happens.

OPEN THREAD: NBA 2k9 Draft Picks 8-30- More running commentary.

OPEN THREAD III: 2009 NBA Draft Recap + Round 2- Recapping the 1st round of the NBA Playoffs and the activity from the Golden State Warriors + the 2nd round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs.

RUMOR: Warriors inquired about Suns' Amare Stoudemire and offered Andris Biedrins- Amare to the Bay?

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I think Chad Ford's 2009 Draft Day grade for the Warriors over at ESPN.com pretty much says it all:

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS GRADE: Inc.
Analysis: I think it's too early to know what grade to give Golden State. I love Curry, and if the Warriors keep him, I think he's a great addition to Monta Ellis in the backcourt. Neither guy is a pure point guard, but Curry's shooting should complement Ellis' slashing nicely.

But if the Warriors turn around and ship Curry, Brandan Wright, Marco Belinelli and Andris Biedrins to Phoenix for Amare Stoudemire in July, as rumored, I'm not going feel as good about it. Stoudemire is great, but that's a lot to give up for one guy, especially if he might be just a one-year rental in Oakland.

We're in a state of disarray here in Warriors land. It feels like the Warriors are on the verge of getting a young and gifted superstar, but who knows if it's all going to be talk a la Kevin Garnett, Gilbertn Arenas, Elton Brand, Chris Bosh, Allen Iverson, etc. It feels like the Warriors got a steal in the draft, but who know knows if he'll even be a Warrior come preseason.

We just don't know.

And I just don't know what else to write. Everything is one big unknown right now.

But I do know this is one great pic! [via www.nba.com + gorrillas]

LINKAGE

Amar'e to Golden State trumped by Kerr - Bright Side Of The Sun

There is not a single NBA analyst who has not already said that Steve Kerr has single-handedly removed an entire era of NBA changing basketball in the Seven Seconds or Less Suns and should he not push this deal many may wonder if he has any sense at all. Considering the potential of Curry and Wright paired with the substantially lesser contract of Andris Biedrins in comparison to Stoudemire's hefty contract  this deal may be the next step into the rebuilding process that Kerr himself initiated, it would be questionable if he decided to not go forward into the future with new talent and rather rebuild around the maximum contract of Stoudemire.

Suns draft / trade day a dizzying mess - Bright Side Of The Sun

Assuming it happens, I like the deal. Beans is a 23 y/o stud 7fter who can defend and rebound on both ends. He can't shot for crap though so you can't play him with Chandler so where does that leave the the deal with the Hornets for Chandler?   Those other guys aren't chopped liver either. Wright, I am less sure about but maybe. Belinelli I think can be a player and Azubuike can come in and play big minutes at the SF as a defender and shooter.

Daily Links: Guess what the topic is? - Bright Side Of The Sun

Stan's got links.  

Warriors Get Curry, but Will He Be Teammate of Stoudemire? -- NBA FanHouse

When it comes to whether or not Amar'e Stoudemire will end up a Golden State Warrior within the week, the answer is: probably. But it's not quite a done deal at this point. There seems to be that little matter of Stephen Curry, whom the Warriors plucked with the No. 7 pick in Thursday's draft. Apparently, that's a player the Suns like and want included in the deal. 

Warriors insist they have a place for a great shooter [SFGate]

Warriors general manager Larry Riley said he had been tracking Curry's progress throughout the past season, twice in person, and that there are no plans to trade him. "This is a great day for the Golden State Warriors," Riley said. "Everything we saw told us this is a quality young man who will fit into our system. He's definitely going to be a contributor as a rookie. It may be December, may be January; it just depends on how quickly he develops." Riley reiterated that Ellis and Stephen Jackson will compose the starting backcourt, and that the club's attention will turn toward a power forward on the trade/free-agent market. ESPN reported Thursday that the Warriors were in serious discussions with the Phoenix Suns, offering Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright, Marco Belinelli and the No. 7 pick (now Curry) for Amare Stoudemire, and that the deal could not take place, if agreed upon, until the free-agent signing period opens July 8.  

Picking Curry may help Warriors deal with Suns [SFGate]

The Stoudemire trade has been rumored for awhile now, with changing components that swirl around Andris Biedrins, but also include some combination of the draft choice, Marco Belinelli, Kelenna Azubuike and Brandan Wright. That rumor has only grown in intensity since the Curry selection. Of course, Stoudemire would have to be re-signed, and that total figure would run into a maximum deal of five years and $95 million. Designated general manager more or less Larry Riley described his role in signing a traded player somewhat cryptically. "That's a little outside my comfort zone, as you consider what to do," he said. "But if it was presented to us, it would be a tough deal for me to get convinced of."  

Bickley: Draft represents fresh start for Suns [AZ Central]

Everything good about this sudden transformation could be found in what the Suns weren't talking about. It was the reports that the team was moving toward an agreement to trade Amaré Stoudemire to Golden State for 7-foot center Andris Biedrins (who runs, plays defense, rebounds and doesn't need the ball) and Curry, selected by the Warriors with the No. 7 pick.

Plays defense? Shhhh... don't tell them.

Curry pick part of likely Amare deal [AZ Central]

The Suns could have landed their man in Thursday night's draft before their pick ever came up. Golden State's selection of Davidson point guard Stephen Curry at No. 7 was likely made for the Suns as part of an Amaré Stoudemire trade that can't be completed until Wednesday. That is because Phoenix would be acquiring Warriors center Andris Biedrins, a base-year compensation player, as part of a Stoudemire deal that would include more Warriors players, possibly power forward Brandan Wright and/or shooting guard Marco Belinelli.

A new look in the works for Suns [AZCentral]

With its first-round pick, Phoenix selected 6-foot-10 Louisville forward Earl Clark, but the bigger news was that sources said the Suns expect to complete a trade with Golden State that would send Amaré Stoudemire to the Warriors next week for Davidson point guard and No. 7 pick Stephen Curry, center Andris Biedrins, power forward Brandan Wright and shooting guard Marco Belinelli.

If Curry is not included, the deal will not be made. A trade cannot be completed until Wednesday because Biedrins, a 23-year-old Latvian 7-footer, is a base-year compensation player whose trade value will not match his contract number until then. The deal needs Biedrins at his $9 million salary, which stays flat through 2013-14, to make the trade work under NBA financial parameters.

Reviewing the week that was [ESPN]

The good news? The Warriors still might wind up with Stoudemire, whom they've coveted since February when the Suns first made him available as part of what is looking like a full-scale roster disassembly. Our tap-the-brakes disclaimer? Sources with certified knowledge of the teams' negotiations say the deal is "still a maybe" and "not anywhere close" to completion. For a variety of reasons.

The Warriors would love to keep No. 7 pick Stephen Curry out of the exchange, and the Suns naturally are pushing for Curry's inclusion. The Warriors also have to be sure Stoudemire's eye and microfracture-repaired knee check out and hammer out the framework of a contract with him before completing the swap, or else they're surrendering the likes of Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright and Marco Belinelli (and/or Kelenna Azubuike) for someone who can leave them in free agency in 2010.

The motivation, though, is believed to be there on both sides to push this through in July. With new general manager Larry Riley launching his tenure as aggressively as David Kahn's in Minnesota, Golden State is convinced it has a face-of-the-franchise opening that will appeal to Amare's superstar longings as well as a coach in Don Nelson who has been waiting his whole coaching life (or at least since Chris Webber's youth) for a power player with Stoudemire's mobility and elbow jumper.

Western Conference Draft Grades [FanHouse]

Golden State Warriors: B+
Selections: Stephen Curry (No. 7)
Comment: Curry was the player who made the most sense for the Warriors: a solid decision-maker, playmaker and possible future point guard. He will boost the team's basketball IQ. Curry makes so much sense for the Warriors that it doesn't look like they want to trade him to Phoenix as part of a possible deal for Amar'e Stoudemire.

NBA.com - DRAFT 2009 Prospects - Stephen Curry

Strengths: Premium scoring talent. Understands how to move with the ball to shake his defender. Terrific off-balance shooter. Prolific scorer off the dribble. Has tremendous range on his jump shot. Excellent instincts and anticipation. Good vision. A capable rebounder despite his size and can even block shots.

Knicks, Sixers come away with strong picks in NBA draft [SI.com]

Potential Winners--- WARRIORS -- Nothing would make Don Nelson happier than scoring 130 points per game. And he may have the guns to do it. But what those guns will be is still in question. After Minnesota's decision to go with Rubio and Flynn allowed Curry to slip to No. 7, the Warriors nabbed the Davidson star, who has an NBA-ready jump shot and can score in bunches. Late Thursday, though, came word that the Warriors may have a deal in the works that would send Curry and center Andris Biedrins to Phoenix for All-Star power forward Amar'e Stoudemire. That likely wouldn't hurt the Warriors' scoring ability, either.

Warriors pick: Stephen Curry, but do they keep him? | Talking Points

If the Warriors are talking contract extension with Stoudemire, here are the max numbers MT-2 and I came up with: Two years left, $16.38M and $17.69M (and does not opt-out). Extension: 3 years, $61.4M. Total value of max deal: 5 years, $95.5m. I can’t imagine that the Warriors would put together a five-player deal to acquire Stoudemire and then back off of a max extension.

Larry Riley press conference: Praises Curry, but a BIG question left unanswered | Talking Points

Warriors GM Larry Riley just came out to address the media after selecting Stephen Curry with the No. 7 pick. He praised Curry, but wouldn’t call him a great shooter (that’s reserved for Anthony Morrow) and Riley very specifically said that Monta Ellis remains the Warriors’ starting point guard. Riley also would not answer questions about the hotly-rumored trade talks with Phoenix involving Amare Stoudemire, though when I asked him if, generally, he still would avoid doing a deal with a pending free agent unless he knew he could re-sign him, Riley sounded like he might’ve done some negotiating tonight and wasn’t thrilled with the asking price. Just an interpretation. Things are murky here, but if they get Stoudemire without giving up Curry (and maybe that’s the goal)… then they’ve got something. We’ll have to see. And I wonder about that contract "asking price."

Stephen Curry talks: "I don’t think it’d hurt to have 2 combo guards" | Talking Points

Curry: "This is a dream come true for me. Something I’ve looked forward to my whole life. Now it’s actually happened I’m very excited for this opportuniky. Going to be a different experience for me moving to the West Coast… But the backcourt Golden State has in position now, with the way they play uptempo getting up and down the floor a high octane offense. .. It’s a style I’ve played growing up, played at Davidson, I’m no stranger at getting up and down the floor. So I’m very excited to taking on this challenge."

Hoops Addict » In The Scrum With Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry talked with the media after a pre-draft workout in Washington earlier this week about how playing point guard last season helped him prepare for playing in the NBA, how valuable his college coach was to his development, he confessed who his favorite team was when he was growing up, his desire to achieve his degree and a host of other topics.

Larry Riley on KNBR Post 2009 NBA Draft

Warriors General Manager Larry Riley joined Murph and Mac to talk about the Warriors' draft day.  

The morning after: Curry, Stoudemire’s contract, and the Warriors’ next move | Talking Points

In the end, I think the Warriors and the Suns are going to keep talking, and I think there’s still a solid shot that Stoudemire ends up here. Better than 50%? I don’t know. I know both teams should be motivated to get this deal done, which is better than Amare staying in Phoenix after knowing he was dangled and better than the Warriors having another non-defensive scorer to add to their non-defensive scoring team. It’s a poker game. But I think it’s clear: The Suns can’t do this trade without Curry, and it’s probably up to Stoudemire’s contract demands to determine if the Warriors will be willing to toss Curry into the deal to make it happen.