The way you backloaded isn't permitted by the present CBA.  Raises are limited to 10.5% of the initial year. They are not compounded.

lol u sure?

I don't think anyone is suggesting that Mbenga has POB's potential. But it's a fact that we won't be able to resign everybody. I actually probably wouldn't mind resigning POB because I'm guessing that he'll outperform his cost in upcoming years, but not if it means we can't resign AB or Monta obviously.

After watching Dalembert & Kaman play against the dubs, I'm not so sure Biedrins will be getting a contract that pays him $10 million/year over 6 years.  

The fact that he's 21 and has had some incredible games may cause teams to take a chance on him, but at this point his weakside shotblocking and post moves are not where I thought they would be, and his rebounding is inconsistent.  He is getting a lot better at handling the ball, and even  had a great assist to Kelenna last night, but its hard to justify giving a large contract to a player who cannot really post up or shoot, period.

I could see Azuibuke getting the full MLE.  He's played very well to open the season and should only get better.  And lastly, I'm still hoping the warriors might bite the bullet for just one year and go into the luxury.  Once Foyle's completely off the books, we're sitting pretty financially.

What if this happened: Biedrins signs for just the qualifying offer, and then we immediately offer him that contract extension for $8-10mil/yr for max years.

I don't know if this is allowed or not, maybe JAE can step in.  But it really helps both parties involved, Biedrins gets the biggest possible sum of money (as opposed to just signing a completely new contract with someone else outright, in which he doen't get the additional qualifying offer money), and we get fiscal manueverability for next season.

we keep Biedrins for his qualifying offer of less than 4mil, and then extend his contract for the 09/10 season on for $8-10mil or whatever, and we can afford it because Foyle's buyout will then be off the books.

So far i've been up for trading away the main 3 (Baron, Al and Jax if possible). I said this because the ceiling on this team is the 7-8th spot in the playoffs. If we can only be a one and done playoff participant, i don't see the point of paying guys max deals. But most likely the warriors will try and stay the course with the main three while hoping the young talent eventually pays off. Building through the draft is one of the most fundamental tools to build a championship. That and good FA signings.

I think our most tradable asset is Monta Ellis. Although his value can rise and fall at any moment. What we should do is find a team willing to deal a first rounder.

If we did stay the course i think the signing of Smith/Iggy or Deng would be very enticing, especially if we can sign AB to the QO (with every intention to sign him next summer). The only drawback is that we'd have Baron to deal with after his contract ends. If we signed Iggy or Deng for example, that would mean we couldn't resign Monta, and depending if Cohan wants to go into the luxury tax (which would probably depend on if we're a contender by then) we might or might not resign Baron. Lets say Baron does opt out, that would leave the warriors with a roster of:

1. 
   
2. Belinelli
   
3. Deng or Iggy
   
4. Wright
   
5. AB

We would most definitely need to draft a PG in the 08' draft or sign a guy that can produce but not command a max deal (Calderon anyone?).  

What i would try to do is make a draft day trade of Monta Ellis, Al Harrington and a future first (or a swap of first round picks) for OJ mayo and to make things even, a crap contract from the other team.

From what i've seen Rose and Beasley (the only other 2 that would really propel the warriors into a contender for years) are showing NBA scouts that they are true franchise players and would be tough to trade up for. I think Mayo could drop in the draft anywhere from 3-5 overall.

That would be an amazing starting 5 with very little depth since i'm assuming we could resign Buike for the MLE at 4-5 mill. for example. But we'd have to let Barnes, Croshere, MP, POB, Thud walk. We'd have to rely on veteran minimum and second round or undrafted rookies as our backups much like Boston is doing.

So b 09-10 season we'd have:

1. OJ Mayo
   
2. Belinelli/Azubuike
   
3. Iggy (I prefer his playmaking ability)
   
4. Wright
   
5. Andris

This team has all world athleticism, but very little depth. It would appear that Mullin has to be a very crafty draft evaluator and FA signer. But this would be an exciting team that i would love to watch play and be patient with because we have A. A decent frontcourt that has length and rebound (hopefully their offensive games expand as well), B. Two legitimate scoring options (MAYO & Iggy) at the wing,  and C. NO DAMN SMALL LINEUPS! We'd be tough to matchup for almost anyteam in the league.

I think i just really want OJ Mayo. I can't explain it.

But.. Biedrins is a RFA, correct?  Can't we sign our $9mil free agent at the beginning of free agency, and then after that match offers to keep Biedrins?  Then we can re-sign him to his max year contract in the following offseason.

As I understand it, we have full Bird rights for Monta and he's a restricted free agent since he's had 3 or fewer years in the league, meaning we can match any offer.  However, you're absolutely correct about the Arenas provision.  Another team can offer him the world.

My guess is that he doesn't get a big offer because of the restricted status and the unwillingness most clubs have to go over the tax.  It will be very interesting to see where this all shakes out.

like we'll resign either Baron or Monta.

I now doubt the warriors will ever trade Baron for any value.

But Monta remains questionable. I think if we can include him in a trade of Monta, POB and Al + a swap of First rounders for a lottery bound team we should do it. We need to get our hands on one of Rose, Beasley, Mayo or shoot i'd even like Gordon, Greene, Arthur, or Jordan (If we can sign a servicable PG such as Calderon or even trade for Sergio).

We need to cover our asses with another PG, just in case Monta never develops, gets traded or Baron opts to sign with another team next-next summer.

as i thought about it, it doesn't make much sense for their teams not to resign them.

I forgot about smith as i wrote that post

Artest would have to opt out to be eligible for free agency, and I'm guessing he doesn't.  Which is why I think the Artest trade scenarios aren't far fetched.

I've also read that the Hawks are somewhat leery of signing Josh Smith to a high-priced long term contract, which also leads me to believe that he may be traded.