Sam Smith at it again - says JRich is the "odd man out"

by pree on Jun 11, 2007 4:07 AM PDT

One of the most intriguing players remains Yi Jianlian. The 7-foot Chinese would appear to be a natural for Golden State, which could attract the large Asian population in the Bay Area. Yi is a good shooter and could eventually fit into an open-court game. The talk all season was Jason Richardson would be the odd man out with his big contract and overlap at wing positions. The Warriors could package Richardson and something for Boston's fifth pick--Theo Ratliff's expiring contract and maybe Sebastian Telfair. Keep an eye on the Warriors. As an aside, I'll be dropping my Warriors Draft Preview tomorrow morning.

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!

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Phoenix and Chicago

remain the biggest obstacles. J-Rich and #18 will surely lose to Marion + two late firsts.

Ratliff + #5 + Delonte West/Ryan Gomes/Tony Allen or some other useful bench player is just too good...complete salary relief + elite young talent on the rookie contract

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Jun 11, 2007 6:23 AM PDT reply actions

Still think it's gotta be Baron

If we're serious about blowing the other offers out of the water. What does Boston want with JRich? They already have a much better version of him in Pierce, and a younger, cheaper version of him in Gerald Green. Baron, on the other hand, makes a ton of sense for them. He's close friends with P2, complements his game perfectly, fills a gaping need at PG, and gives the team immediate credibility in the eyes of a cranky and frustrated fanbase. They're already calling for Ainge's head there ... if he makes a half-move by drafting a project like Yi, it could really get ugly. Baron immediately makes their franchise player happy and their team better, and quiets the angry mob.

What do we get out of it? Well, we could probably name our price, outside of their big two. I'd ask for the #5 (Wright, Horford, Yi, or Noah), Rondo, and Theo's expiring contract, which could be used to pay for extensions for Monta and AB. We'd be taking a fairly big initial step back, but really setting ourselves up pretty nicely for the medium/long term. Rondo-Monta-JRich-Yi(?)-Biedrins-Buki-Thad Young(?) is a pretty exciting young core. Or maybe we forget about resigning Monta and use the Ratliff money to go after that Gilbert Arenas fellow next year...?

2008-09 starting five

Arenas
JRich
Thad Young (or equiv.)
Yi
Biedrins

Anyone? Yes, Pree, I know you hate this deal for us. Alternately, they could go with the youth movement, and we could try to pry Pierce using JRich, Harrington, and the #18 pick. Baron-Monta-Pierce-Player X-Biedrins. Not bad at all, depending on who Player X is. It just seems to make sense to unite Baron and Pierce on one coast or the other.

by Sleepy Freud on Jun 11, 2007 8:10 AM PDT reply actions

Heart and Soul

Baron Davis is the heart and soul of this team... he's why we beat dallas, he's why we were in the playoffs... At this point, I wouldn't even give up Baron for the #2 pick... why give up a proven superstar, clutch shooter, unstopable scorer, and team-driven playmaker for a bunch of potential? Just not the way to go...

Besides... Yi isn't going to get Jessica Alba at our games... that alone is worth keeping #5 around

by sniperguyj on Jun 11, 2007 8:57 AM PDT up reply actions

I thought about the Alba angle too

I actually would "miss" her if Baron left. How lame of me.

As for Baron himself, I agree ... mostly.

Heart and soul of team? Absolutely.
Why we made the playoffs and beat Dallas? Yes, or at least more than any other single factor.
Proven superstar? Well ... kinda depends on your definition of superstar. I'd probably put him more in the realm of "star," though he sure looked the superstar part against Dallas.
Clutch shooter? In this year's playoffs, yes. As a general rule, I'd like to see him shooting from deep as little as possible. That's the one area where Gilbert really has him beat.
Team-driven playmaker? Yes, and I agree that that's really hard to replace.

On the downside, he's extremely fragile, heading towards the end of his prime years, and coming up for a huge extension which, at the terms I've been hearing, we'd have to be insane to grant him.

Yes, we'd be tearing out our heart and soul for a year, possibly two. We'd get over it. Hearts are bouncy like basketballs.

by Sleepy Freud on Jun 11, 2007 9:17 AM PDT up reply actions

Sam Smith

Is a complete moron. This guy's been putting JRich on the trading block for over 2 years now. I seriously doubt he has any insight into the Warriors, let alone what Mullie or Nellie want to do. That being said, bringing Yi to the bay is tempting. My biggest fear is that they move up to get Yi(possibly giving up too much), and he becomes a flop. For every Dirk Nowitski, there's a Darko Milicic. Given Nellie's ability to spot foreign talent and gauge their ability to adapt and excel in the NBA, I would trust whatever he did.

by montasboy on Jun 11, 2007 9:29 AM PDT reply actions

yea

if Nelly is a heavy influence in this draft, i trust that they're getting a good one in Yi.

As much as i'd rather it be Jrich, Sleepy is right, its gonna take Baron to trump Phoenix' offer of Marion and two first rounders. I'm guessing Baron, POB, and a future frst rounder, plus our two second round picks would be a good counter offer.

In return i'd hope we get the #5, plus Ratliff and Rondo. Rondo looks like a decent role player, and could definitely be used.

In keeping out 18th pick we can go after a guy with a specific talent. Either go for an athletic wing player to replace Monta (since he will be moving to the point), or BPA, or a shot blocker/rebounder.

I wanted to take Javaris Crittenten with the 18th, but in getting Rondo, it'd be a moot point. A draft of Yi, Wright, Horford, and someone like Sean williams ain't a bad draft haul. sets us up down low for the future, plus we get a backup pg while shedding payroll.

AND yes i do hope we can go after GA. By then with Baron and Foyle's deals coming off the books, hopefully we'll have major cap relief.

Warriors, Stupidest franchise in the league. Purgatory is thy home.

by kenntoe on Jun 11, 2007 10:28 AM PDT reply actions

I'm sorry..

As tantalizing as Yi is, I don't think we should be blowing up this team that, just a mere month ago, took us on a magical journey to the playoffs that re-energized the NBA's greatest fanbase and told the world that we exist and that we're dangerous. Let's build on what we have, people! Call me crazy, but I'd rather have Baron than "the next Dirk Nowitzki", cuz we already saw who won that battle.

by ivanbe on Jun 11, 2007 11:32 AM PDT reply actions

I agree,

I'm also worried what bringing in Yi would do to the fanbase. While he would bring in thousands of new bay area fans and could be a money maker for Cohan, I am afraid that these new fans would care mostly about Yi and not the team in general. With the new fans buying up the tickets, would the atmosphere in the Oracle change since they aren't true, die-hard, life-long Warriors fans? It scares me to think our raucous crowd could become nothing more than a cheer-on-Yi crowd. I was so proud of not only our team but our fans after the playoffs that I don't want to mess with the Karma. Get the best player for the team, not the one that will make the team the most money. If that is Yi, so be it. Otherwise, I would stay away.

by yehyeh82 on Jun 11, 2007 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions

werd

I'd rather trade Harrington than I would JRich. Just my two centsicals.

by coma @ Golden State Of Mind on Jun 11, 2007 11:35 AM PDT reply actions

you arent gonna get the # 5...

pick for harrington when phoenix is dangling shawn marion...

by dallaswarrior on Jun 11, 2007 12:59 PM PDT reply actions

You aren't getting the #5 with JRich or Baron

You'd have to give up one of your top players and a young player as well. Word out of Boston is they would want JR, AB, and the #18. Costs too much.

by pree on Jun 11, 2007 1:45 PM PDT reply actions

Boston's doing a good job building up hype then

Because no one's foolish enough to give into that kind of trade request.

by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 11, 2007 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Blazers ..

have offered Z-Bo, Jack, Webster, and some #2s. Boston will get what they want.

by pree on Jun 11, 2007 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Interesting

Not a bad trade for Boston at all.

It's still quite different than JR, AB, and the #18.

by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 11, 2007 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions

I have a hard time believing

that Portland offered all of that....or that the Celtics haven't accepted it yet. I could see Z-Bo going, but not Webster and Jack as well.

by yehyeh82 on Jun 11, 2007 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd be surprised

If the Cs went anywhere near Z-Bo after their issues with Telfair. He's also a ballhog who doesn't complement Pierce and Jefferson's games at all.

Jack and Webster are basically just filler. If the Blazers made the deal it would be so they could pair Oden with his boy Conley, and they also apparently like Rodriguez, so Jack would be pretty superfluous. Meanwhile, Webster, while still promising, will never be as good as Brandon Roy. I actually think this would be a great deal for the Blazers.

Personally, if I were the Blazers, I'd shoot for the moon and see if Randolph, LaMarcus Aldridge, Webster, and Jack could get me the #2 pick from Seattle. Oden/Durant/Roy ain't a bad core to build around...

by Sleepy Freud on Jun 11, 2007 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Its tough...

Baron is the man, but when you need some stability(counting on him to play) Baron kinda throws that out the door specifically due to him being so damn fragile. Baron could barely walk around the court the last 2 games of the year. Remember J Rich this past year with the off-season knee surgury? It took him a month or two to get back-the same may happen with Baron. We may be without him for the first 1-2 months of the year. With that said I think we need to forget about all this trade talk with Baron's name in it. Simply put, lets build off our success. Monta WILL have a larger role this upcoming season and WILL be an improved player if that's possible(2 years in a row of Most Improved Player?)and because of that Baron will have less minutes to sprain another whatever and will know that when he's in for 25 minutes, he needs to make them count-same goes for Monta.

As for JRich, keep him! The overall theme of this summer should be to keep our existing players, not get rid of them for other par players and/ or trade them for unprooven rookies. Yi, dude, the guy is gonna be so average for some time. I hope I'm wrong if we end up drafting him, but that would mean we'd have to trade guys like Baron and J Rich to get a guy who is averaging very par #'s, but they aren't even in the NBA, they are in the Chinese league-lol!!!!!! Yi is wayyyyyyyyy too much of a risk to break up this team. If he had 28 pts, 15 rebs, 6 ass, 4 blks and 2 stls a game in China,that would be cool, but they aren't even those, so why would they be that in the NBA? Keep the team together and build with the upcoming youngsters!

by gabezgsw on Jun 11, 2007 1:47 PM PDT reply actions

no

from what i've heard yi = slightly taller al harrington. we don't need another one of those guys on our team. plus, i am strongly against trading someone proven for someone who is nothing but hype, especially when it's j-rich

by AJC3317 on Jun 11, 2007 6:01 PM PDT reply actions

Let's Not Get Too Ahead Of Ourselves

I think we're becoming a bit too picky. Let's face it, this team was only together for half a season. They finished the season on a 16-5 run, and exceeded most of anyone's expectations. They're going to be a force at home, plus they will improve on the road. This roster intact is a 50 win team. Yes the Western Conference will be improved, but this team can win. We've got to be careful at this juncture. The W's may be one player away from contending to go to the finals, however we've got to be careful on who we give up to get this player(s). Your thoughts?

by montasboy on Jun 11, 2007 10:32 PM PDT reply actions