ESPN Page 2's biggest name Bill Simmons assembled his annual NBA Trade Value column earlier this week. Simmons has been putting these top 50/ 40 rankings together for over 6 years and even though I rarely read his Bostonian columns masquerading as general sports columns on ESPN.com, I ALWAYS read this segment. His Trade Value columns are consistently well-researched, exhaustive, and most important wildly entertaining. They always spark some fantastic discussions too.

Well I have some very good news to share with Warriors Nation. For the first time in the 7 year run of this column 3 Warriors made the cut!

Hint: Kosta "Zero Threat Position" Perovic isn't one of the three.

A retrospective on past Warriors who made Simmons' list and a look at who made the cut this season plus some quick bold predictions... after the jump!

Continue reading this post »

GSoM friend Jason Gurney of Ballhype fame knows his Warriors like Thunder knows BALCO. Last season Jason put together a fun, interactive Warriors preview for the 2006-2007 NBA Blogger Previews. For longtime Warrior fans who suffered through the 12 year drought that preview will always remain timeless. This season Jason's bringing his A-game with his 2007-2008 Warriors season preview to Golden State of Mind. We're extremely lucky to have his well-researched contribution here. For all you longtime Warrior and hoops fans it's a great trip down memory lane!

- Atma Brother #1

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By Jason Gurney

The Golden State Warriors have a rich franchise history, spanning three cities, a half-dozen logos, and more than 400 players. To honor this history, I've previewed the 2007-08 season by making a series of comparisons between current and former Warriors. For each roster member, I chose a best-case comparison, a worst-case comparison, and my guess at the most likely parallel for the upcoming season.

	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Kelenna Azubuike	Mitch Richmond As with several others, had to leave Oakland to become an All-Star … one of the best video game basketball players of all time	Calbert Cheaney Shooting guard missed all 21 3-point attempts in 3 seasons with Golden State … has the quan	Jim Jackson Warriors were 4th of his 12 NBA teams … could still be playing with Kidd if it weren't for Toni Braxton
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Matt Barnes	Billy Owens Still fondly remembered by Syracuse faithful … on wrong end of one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history	Mike Dunleavy Most photogenic ex-Warrior … chosen #3 overall in 2002 draft … little-known fact: son of Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy Sr.	Lester Conner Strong defensive skills earned him the nickname "Lester the Molester" … would rather be playing poker
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Marco Belinelli	Rick Barry One of the greatest offensive players of all time … led Warriors to their only NBA title in 1975 … Wikipedia page looks to be self-edited	Jiri Welsch Known in Europe for sweet outside stroke and ability to drive to the basket … uncanny resemblance to J.E. Skeets	Vinny Del Negro Italian-American played two seasons for Italy's Benetton Treviso … not yet enshrined into Basketball Hall of Fame, but they did give him a locker
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Andris Biedrins	Nate Thurmond Warriors' all-time leader in minutes played, rebounds … brought authentic southern BBQ to San Francisco's Mission District	Adonal Foyle Terrific community guy, solid defender, offensive liability … paid $13 million by the Warriors to not play here anymore	Rony Seikaly Just about averaged a double-double for his career … only gets half as many search hits as his supermodel wife
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Austin Croshere	Jud Buechler Owns more championship rings than Wilt Chamberlain … will never leave Del Mar	Bill Curley Played for 5 NBA teams in 5 seasons … legendary in Massachusetts basketball circles	Brian Cardinal "The Janitor" … earned 2nd-highest GSW PER in 03-04 (#1: Dampier)
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Baron Davis	Gilbert Arenas Sleeps in a hypobaric chamber … with eye contact and a handshake, would have stayed	Bimbo Coles Lost at least 29 games to injury in each of 3 seasons in Golden State … 'nuff said: given name is Vernell Eufaye	Tim Hardaway Wore #5 as a rookie … reached 5000 points and 2500 assists faster than any NBA player, except Oscar Robertson … now embraced by some of the gay community
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Monta Ellis	Sleepy Floyd Famously torched Lakers for 29 4th quarter points in 1987 playoffs … despite slight (170lb) frame, scored many of his points in the paint	Mister Jennings Taller than Boykins and Bogues, but just barely … often teamed with the 6'0" Hardaway in Nellie's backcourt	Earl Boykins Bench presses 315 pounds … after opting out of contract this summer, still looking for a team
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Al Harrington	Marques Johnson Averaged 20.1 ppg for career … retired early due to 1986 neck injury … known to react violently when hustled	Tom Tolbert Looks at the NBA as a football game without the helmet … played point forward during Nellie's first reign … fun fact: played last year with a mock-turtleneck under his jersey	Antawn Jamison Essentially traded to Mavericks for a single Nick Van Exel season … spelling of first name blamed on birth certificate error
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Troy Hudson	Mookie Blaylock Pearl Jam's original namesake … made 1,283 career three-pointers (12th all-time)	Vonteego Cummings Along with Marcus Fizer and Will Bynum, playing for Maccabi-Tel Aviv this year … agrees that Knicks still suck	Butch Beard Coached some crazy teams in New Jersey … has first-hand knowledge of Clyde's magnetism, Big Chief Triangle's elbows
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Stephen Jackson	Latrell Sprewell (1992-96) Named to 1st Team All-NBA during MJ's first sabbatical … hardly ever dunked with one hand	Latrell Sprewell (1997-) Will put a little mustard on the pass when he damn well pleases … really does have a family to feed … Milwaukee's Best repossessed	Jamaal Wilkes Unorthodox shot: brought ball behind his head before slingshot release … was Cornbread in Cornbread, Earl and Me
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Stephane Lasme	Chris Gatling "The Energizer" … career 51% shooter … will give you your props after you dunk on him	Carlos Rogers Tattoo portrays praying hands, sans firearm … grew up in Detroit, balling with Chris Webber and Jalen Rose	Jerome Whitehead Won a championship with the Marquette Warriors … reached playoffs once in 11-year NBA career
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Patrick O'Bryant	Ralph Sampson Closer to 6'11" than 7'4" … clinched 1986 Western Conference Finals with most improbable shot ever	Todd Fuller Famously picked ahead of Kobe, Peja, Nash, Jermaine, Big Z … started 18 games as a rookie, 5 more ever	Alton Lister Primary claim to fame: pwned by Shawn Kemp … hired this summer as an assistant coach for the Hawks
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Kosta Perovic	Manute Bol Since retiring from basketball, has appeared in hockey, boxing, and horse-racing stunts … for career, jacked up 3-pointers more frequently than Jeff Malone	Uwe Blab Started 30 games for the Warriors in 1989-90 while posting a 3.3 PER … was successful in dramatically increasing customer base, sales and margin by employing quality people, improving processes and working closely with the customers	Paul Mokeski Recipient of prestigious Mokeski Award … hired this summer as an assistant coach for the Bobcats
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Mickael Pietrus	Jason Richardson Sees this year's Bobcats as similar to '07 Warriors … Boozer is still pissed	Damon Jones Can shoot the three, not much else … self-proclaimed Black Brad Pitt	Terry Teagle On the losing end of MJ's first title … as far as one Jim Saco is concerned, even with his shortcomings and they were numerous, Teagle had more charisma than 90% of the players in the league today
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Brandan Wright	Joe Smith Peaked statistically as a rookie … upon further review, actually is pretty ordinary	Clifford Rozier Peaked statistically as a rookie … jailed in 2001 for stealing a sheriff deputy's personal car	Donyell Marshall Indirectly acquired for Chris Webber … drafted #4 overall in 1994, partially thanks to his long wingspan
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Don Nelson	Al Attles Guided Warriors to their only NBA title in 1975 … local icon boasts 36 years of experience with the franchise as a player, coach, general manager, and consultant	Dave Cowens Fired 23 games into his 2nd season as Warriors coach … As a Celtics player, once took a leave of absence to drive a cab	Don Nelson Innovator responsible for "Hack-a-Shaq," "Point Forward," and "Nellie-Ball" … rocky track record with the rookies

Thanks to lifelong GSW fan YGBFKM for helping to put this together.

What's that saying that your middle school History teacher never ceased to repeat at nauseam?

"Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it"?

Well, believe you me the last thing we want is for some of those historically bad Golden State Warriors' draft day blunders to repeat themselves today. So for good luck, flip back on these "hits" from the archive and please, please don't forget them:

• Lucky #9: Revisiting the Warriors' Draft 9 Years Ago (Jordan Pippen 2.0)
• Feeling Even Fuller
• 1994 Milk Carton
• 1995 Draft- We're #1!!
• Slammin' from 1996 to 1984
• Worst #3
• Don't Bust Out!

Good god no!

Wow that was like a horror movie. Hey we don't forget our history here at GSoM, so please hoops gods- don't let us repeat it...

Any last minute draft day anxieties or worries?

The retro fresh folks over at Fear the Beard recently dropped a piece on former Warrior great World B. Free. You've seen the painfully bad, feel good story of 1994 "The Air Up There", but don't sleep on the painfully good World B. Free aka The Prince of Midair.

"LOTS OF CRAP!"
Kevin Bacon shouldn't be allowed to do hoops movies.

I missed World B. Free's run with the Dubs by a few years, but here's what sticks out in my mind about the man:

• World had a 44-inch vertical! Can you imagine if Adonal Foyle had that kind of hops?
  
  
• His original name was Lloyd Free, but he legally changed his first name to "World". You better be a straight balla if you do something like that and this man looks to have fit the description.
  
  
• Wouldn't it be cool if you could say you played Around the World on the blacktop with World?
  
  
• On every elementary school playground there's always some annoying, unguardable kid with the ugliest form on his jumpshot, but for some reason hits EVERYTHING. World B. Free is role model for kids like that:
  His style was unique to be sure, and it was one that more than one of us made misguided attempts to imitate on the playground. Raining jumpers released well behind his head, elbows akimbo, and with legs awkwardly splayed, was not--as it turned out--the best way to square one's shoulders to the basket.
  
  
  
• I personally love it when old skool styles make a comeback, but I'm praying World's look doesn't ever come back, more so than those 3 inch John Stockton booty hugger shorts:
  Needless to say, an individual so profoundly unusual as to change his name to World also rocked a unique look. Yes, he had a beard, but his signature look rendered the beard an afterthought. He was fond of the previously unthinkable pairing of mutton chop sideburns with a male-pattern-baldness receding dome line. Think George Jefferson meets the Mod Squad.
  
  
  
• And lastly a Warrior on a Sports Illustrated cover? And not just Chris Mullin and Manute Bol on a Sports Illustrated for Kids cover? Unstoppable baby!

Golden State Illustrated.

Head on over to Fear the Beard for more history on World B. Free.

For you old skoolers, what was your you favorite World B. Free moment?

The year was 1994. Sir Charles Barkley, Kevin Johnson (KJ), Thunder Dan Majerle, and the Phoenix Suns were the present, but Chris Webber aka The Prize, Latrell Sprewell aka The American Dream, and the Golden State Warriors were the future. This classic Nike hoops barbershop commercial captured that feeling for Warriors Nation best [via Ballhype]:

Barkley to CWebb: "I don't believe in role models, but uh... you're mine."

Well as you all know things didn't exactly go according to plan. Nellie and CWebb weren't the bestest of buddies and Latrell went Sprewell on PJ. But for 13 long years THAT was the last Warrior team that could plausibly claim they had next.

The Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, and Dallas Mavericks are undoubtedly the present, but does this current incarnation of the Warriors got next like CWebb and Spree did back in 1994?

Q: Who was the last Warrior to make the All Star team?

Q: Who was the last Warrior to make the All-NBA First team?

Q:?Who was the last Warrior to make an All-NBA Defensive team?

Q:?Who was the last Warrior to be named MVP of the McDonald's High School Game?

A:

Things were going so well for Spree in Oakland that he even had enough money to feed his family back then!

Also see:

• #1 Hoops Feud of All Time
• Latrell Sprewell: The American Dream

It's been 12 years since the Warriors had a player (not representation- see Question & Answer) in the All Star game. Who do you think will be the next Warrior to make the All Star team? Jason Richardson? Baron Davis? Troy Murphy actually might have a great chance if he's listed as a center. Remember the West is stacked. The next Warrior All Star might not even be on the current roster.

The Sportz Assassin recently dropped a list of stupid team names based on the ridiculous "cities" they're supposed to represent. For once the Warriors actually ranked high on a greatest hits list. Coming at you with the #2 stupidest name:

To address some of the Sportz Assassin's points:

1. Yes, the Warriors are one of four NBA teams in Cali, but they have the best fans and the best hoops blog (ahem, GSoM!). That alone counts for enough to represent the entire Wessyde!
2. Yes, the Warriors do suck. Guilty as charged.
3. The Fakers as the state's team? No way. That squad is for casual hoops fans who show up near the end of halftime and think Devean George is the next Shawn Marion.(I'm not kidding a few Laker fans actually tried to convince Fantasy Junkie and I that during the Lakers' championship run in the earlier part of this century. Thank god we don't live in SoCal anymore!)
4. The Raiders splitting games between Oak-town and LA? Sorry, the Black Hole belongs in the Oakland Coliseum.

Being a super-educated Warrior community, we all know from Glenn Dickey's Q&A some of the history about why the Warriors are called Golden State.

There's no question that Golden State is a bizzare city name for the Warriors. It makes as much sense as passing up on Jordan and Pippen 2.0. Still, we like to think of Golden State not as a place, but rather a State of Mind...

Make sure to vote in the poll in the comments section for which name you prefer for the Warriors:

• Golden State Warriors?
• Oakland Warriors?
• Bay Area Warriors?
• Bay Area Warriors of Oakland? (If the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim can do it, so can we!)

For some more Warrior logo fun check out:

• Chris Creamer's Sports Logo Page
• Warriors Logos from Bradleyrd
• Going Retro: Golden State Warriors (NBA.com)

A dozen years. 12 long excruciating years since the Golden State Warriors made the playoffs. The hiring of Don Nelson is perhaps the best move the Warriors could have made this offseason to end that streak. Nellie was the coach the last time the Golden State Warriors made the playoffs, and hopefully that comes full circle and he is the coach again when the Warriors make the playoffs. But in between the time that Nellie stepped down in the '94-'95 season until last year's heartbreaking '05-'06 disaster, there were many, many, many coaches that have come and gone. What's a common characteristic of losing franchises? The hiring and firing of many coaches. Without further ado, let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit the years between the Nelson sandwich.

If you haven't already, check out Part 1 and Part 2. This last Dirty Dozen article completes the trilogy of futility, years 9-12, season 2002-2003 through 2005-2006, from Muss to Monty.

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2002-2003 (Record: 38-44)
Coach: Eric Musselman

I'm taking this with me! (Photo: sportscyclopedia.com)

The best coach during the dirty dozen was Eric Musselman. He was given his first NBA coaching position and flourished. He took the 21 win team and nearly doubled that win total. He came in 2nd for Coach of the Year balloting (he should have won!) by getting this team to its highest win total since the '93 playoff season using a high octane offense that ranked 2nd in points scored at 102.4 per game. On top of the wins, Troy Murphy averages a double-double, JRich gained popularity with his second straight Slam Dunk title, Jamison once again led the team in scoring, and Arenas was named the Most Improved Player.

Things were finally looking up for this franchise. A 5 game win improvement in the next year with the maturation of our young studs was going to put us back in the promised land...

2003-2004 (Record: 37-45)
Coach: Eric Musselman

These two really liked each other. (Photo: championshipproductions.com)

Ooops. This year turned out to be one of constant injuries and didn't give the team a chance to gel and get the winning record we'd been hoping for. Even with all of the injuries, Muss guided the team to 37 wins. But because he clashed with some of the players and management, he was shown the door despite being responsible for the amazing turnaround.

JRich took over as the lead dog and led the team in scoring. Dampier was in a contract season and played well enough to earn a large contract in the upcoming offseason. What's was possibly most impressive is that the Golden State Warriors went 27-14 at home (nevermind the 10-31 on the road). The were protecting their home floor and the fans were loving it at the rocking Arena.

So out went Muss, and in came a new regime. One was a former player and the other, a popular and incredibly successful college coach.

2004-2005 (Record: 34-48)
Coach: Mike Montgomery

I...I don't know what to do. (Photo: foxsports.com)

Oh boy. Chris Mullin took over as Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Golden State Warriors and Mike Montgomery was hired as coach. The year started out UGLY. The team was 16-38 and a funny thing happened. Chris Mullin wanted to make a splash so he traded Dale Davis and Speedy Claxton for Baron Davis. The team finished 18-10 and rolled off a 14-4 finish leading to perhaps the first real season of hope.

Baron Davis won back-to-back NBA Player of the Week awards, a feat accomplished by only 7 other players. TMurph averaged another double double, JRich led the team in scoring, and the Warriors set a franchise attendance record averaging 16,350 fans per game.

Oh great things were going to come next year. We would have an invite to that thing they call the playoffs. Our season wouldn't end after 82 games. We could take that permanent "Gone Fishing" sign down from the entrance to the Arena. It was all taking shape so perfectly...

2005-2006 (Record: 34-48)
Coach: Mike Montgomery

Lean back! Lean back! (Photo: nba.com)

This was the year. The national media predicted the Warriors in the playoffs. The national media predicted the Warriors in the playoffs. The national media predicted the Golden State Warriors in the playoffs. Heck, I remember early in the year, the pre-game show had David Aldridge on for an interview about why he was covering the Warriors. They asked him when the last time he was sent to cover the Warriors. Guess which year. Yup, 1993. But we all know what happened. It wasn't any one player's fault, it wasn't all the coaches' fault. Things didn't click blah blah blah, and we ended up with an identical 34-48 record. That meant the Warriors were back on tv during the playoffs, but only during the lottery announcement. Déjà vu.

Even after writing this I feel all dirty. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. I'm going to need a little Nelson to wash the taste out of my mouth.

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I hope you enjoyed this "wonderful" trip down memory lane. Knowing the struggles and where we've been will only make this season more exciting and fun to be a part of.

To recap, the overall record after the last playoffs season is 332-620 (0.349 winning percentage). Here's a breakdown of the 12 years of "interim" coaches:
Bob Lanier, Rick Adelman x 2, PJ Carlesimo x 2, Garry St. Jean, Dave Cowens, Brian Winters, Eric Musselman x 2, and Mike Montgomery x 2.

2006-2007 (Record: 00-00)
Coach: Don Nelson

Bring on the playoffs! (Photo: GoldenStateofMind.com)

So you read through all of Parts 1, 2, and 3. Rehashed the last 12 excruciating years. Well I'm here to tell you that this is the year! Nellie ball. Outscoring opponents 130-125. I'm putting my faith in the team. It's a crazy thing to do since our collective hearts are broken every year, oftentimes at the end of November. But this is what it's all about. Belief in your team, belief in the success of your guys. You don't root and cheer for a losing franchise unless you're crazy or no, actually I think we're all crazy. I'm ready for this year. Go Warriors!

Of the twelve years, what was your favorite year?

A dozen years. 12 long excruciating years since the Golden State Warriors made the playoffs. The hiring of Don Nelson is perhaps the best move the Warriors could have made this offseason to end that streak. Nellie was the coach the last time the Golden State Warriors made the playoffs, and hopefully that comes full circle and he is the coach again when the Warriors make the playoffs. But in between the time that Nellie stepped down in the '94-'95 season until last year's heartbreaking '05-'06 disaster, there were many, many, many coaches that have come and gone. What's a common characteristic of losing franchises? The hiring and firing of many coaches. Without further ado, let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit the years between the Nelson sandwich.

If you haven't already, check out Part 1. Up next is the 2nd of our 3 part series, the 1998-1999 season to the 2001-2002 season.

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1998-1999 (Record: 21-29)
Coach: PJ Carlesimo

(Photo: starwave.com)

PJ once again returned as coach for the lockout shortened season. Spree was traded, Antawn showed us some nifty post moves, and and the Warriors recorded the second-best improvement in the league behind Toronto.

But then the draft came. Bimbo Coles, Duane Ferrell and the #10 pick (Jason Terry) for Mookie Blaylock and the #21 pick. Ugh. After the huge improvement from the year before, management believed we were just a solid veteran away from making the playoffs and breaking the 5 year streak. It only got worse...

1999-2000 (Record: 19-63)
Coach: Garry St. Jean

Good `ol Saint. (Photo: nba.com)

It was like the `97-`98 season all over again, a disaster. This time there were no chokings or trading away of veteran players to blame. PJ failed as the coach and a couple days after Christmas, he was relieved of his duties only to have St Jean coach the team. It wasn't all bad though. Even crappy teams have good players who produce. Jamison upped his points per game to 19.6, Larry Hughes (acquired in a trade for the Warriors first rounder) averaged 22.7 after the trade, and Donyell averaged a double-double. Despite the achievements, the 19-63 record is still 19-63, there's no way to sugar coat that one.

2000-2001 (Record: 17-65)
Coach: Dave Cowens

The Celtics glory days? Far from it. (Photo: nba.com)

But now you say, "Fantasy Junkie, it couldn't have possibly become worse, right?" Wrong. Hide the kids, this is sure to cause nightmares. Dave Cowens was brought in to right this ship, but 17 wins and 65 losses later his job security was a little tenuous. That worked out well didn't it? It was just one more year of missing the playoffs, next year would be our year!

For bright spots, again, there was Jamison producing like no other Warrior could as he averaged nearly 25 points and 9 rebounds per game. Also, the team finished first in the NBA in offensive rebounds and second in total rebounds. Looks like a worthless stat to me. Do rebounds really help you win ball games then? Another bright spot would be the draft. St Jean really outdid himself here. JRich, Murphy, and Arenas all in one draft? Wow. Sometimes picking names out of a hat does work.

2001-2002 (Record: 21-61)
Coach: Brian Winters

Just a little scary. (Photo: nuvo.net)

How do you like this 5 year stretch of wins? 19, 21 (lockout season), 19, 17, 21. A combined 97-281, good for a 0.313 winning percentage. Yay! That's a good batting average but not win percentage. Heck, if this were baseball, we might be better than the Royals, but that's nothing to brag about.

As for the season, Dave Cowens was mercifully relieved of his duties as coach by Brian Winters. Neither was any good.

Oh but statistical positives galore. Danny Fortson was 4th in the NBA in rebounding and the Warriors were #1 in the NBA in rebounding and offensive rebounding. The Warriors twin towers version of David Robinson and Tim Duncan, Erick Dampier and Adonal Foyle, both finished in the top 10 in blocked shots. The biggest bright spot though was the superb play of our rookies, especially JRich and Arenas. The draft came and there was a consensus top 2, Yao Ming and Jay Williams. Unfortunately, the Warriors had pick #3. That pick brought us fan favorite Mike Dunleavy Jr. straight out of Duke.

Change was looming because Winters was not destined to be the Warriors coach for long.

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Check out Part 1 & Part 3

Who was the Warriors best player during these first 4 years?

A dozen years. 12 long excruciating years since the Golden State Warriors made the playoffs. The hiring of Don Nelson is perhaps the best move the Warriors could have made this offseason to end that streak. Nellie was the coach the last time the Golden State Warriors made the playoffs, and hopefully that comes full circle and he is the coach again when the Warriors make the playoffs. But in between the time that Nellie stepped down in the '94-'95 season until last year's heartbreaking '05-'06 disaster, there were many, many, many coaches that have come and gone. What's a common characteristic of losing franchises? The hiring and firing of many coaches. Without further ado, let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit the years between the Nelson sandwich.

Here's the first 4 years in our 3 part series. Enjoy?

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1994-1995 (Record: 26-56)
Coach: Nellie to Bob Lanier

I love this game! (Photo: nba.com)

This was the year that started the infamous streak. First, Chris Cohan takes a 75% share of the team, giving him full control over the basketball operations. Next, they trade away Chris Webber, a bonafide star in the making, for Tom Gugliotta who then gets traded for Donyell Marshall. The first coach in the post-Nellie era was Bob Lanier. As the interim coach, the big, tall intimidating center could never get the Warriors to gel and wound up a casualty.

Even after the whole Don Nelson - Chris Webber fiasco, the season had its bright spots. Spree repped the Warriors in the All Start Game, Tim Bug averaged 20 points and 9 assists, and Gatty led the league in FG% at .633. Then to top it all off, we won the draft lottery! The #1 pick! Joe Smith or Jerry Stackhouse. Jerry Stackhouse or Joe Smith. (By the way, KG went #5 to the TWolves) We all know how the Joe Smith era turned out, but it was still an exciting time to be a Warrior fan.

1995-1996 (Record: 36-46)
Coach: Rick Adelman

Someone put up the wrong banner behind him! (Photo: clearchannel.com)

This was a good hire by the Warriors and their new general manager, Dave Twardzik. Adelman had proven he could coach. He guided the Blazers to 2 NBA Finals and a Western Conference Final. He made the playoffs every year he was there. At the time it felt like the Warriors just needed that extra push to get them back to the playoffs and hiring a good coach would make the difference (that sounds eerily familiar). But Adelman and the Warriors flopped.

What made it even worse was the trade of Tim Hardaway (my favorite player) and Chris Gatling to Miami for Kevin Willis and Bimbo Coles. Let's analyze this carefully. Chris Webber, Tim Hardaway and Chris Gatling turned into Donyell Marshall, Kevin Willis, and Bimbo Coles. Now I was only a sophomore in high school, and unfortunately the Warriors couldn't hire me, but even I would have made better moves back then.

The bright spot? Joe Smith. He won Rookie of the Month awards in December and February and even made the All-Rookie First team.

Wait, it gets even better. Todd Fuller was selected with the 11th pick in the draft. On to the next year...

1996-1997 (Record: 30-52)
Coach: Rick Adelman

Why did I take this job? (Photo: cnn.net)

Adelman was again back as coach looking to regain the magic of 3 years ago when the Warriors and Suns battled it out in the playoffs. They resigned Spree to a 4 year deal, Joe Smith was going to blossom into a star, and and and... and the Warriors were again back in the lottery only to select the currently longest tenured Warrior, Mr. Adonal Foyle out of the college basketball powerhouse, Colgate University.

Adelman was fired during the offseason, but here's an interesting tidbit. Take a wild guess at the only 2 years one of Coach Adelman's teams did not make the playoffs? Here's another fun fact. Guess who succeeded Adelman in Portland? PJ Carlesimo. Guess who succeeded Adelman in Golden State?

1997-1998 (Record: 19-63)
Coach: PJ Carlesimo

Put a little mustard on that pass! (Photo: sportsecyclopedia.com)

If you guessed PJ Carlesimo to the above question, you win a trip to the playoffs. The catch is that in order to claim your prize, you have to root for any other team in the NBA. Pick one, any one and you will most likely make the playoffs within the next few (not 12) years.

This year, the Warriors opened their newly renovated arena and take it from me, this year was not how you welcome in a renovated stadium. If there was a bottom point in this dirty dozen, it's this year. Combine the 19 wins, the trading of longtime Warrior Chris Mullin for the lazy Dampier, the trading of Joe Smith, and the infamous choke, what do you get? Possibly the worst year in franchise history.

The bright spots? You would have had to wait out the entire year and playoffs for what has become the highlight of the Warriors season, the NBA draft. This time the Warriors got Antawn Jamison in a trade for Vince Carter. Ooops.

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Check out Part 2 & Part 3

Who was the Warriors best player during these first 4 years?