JRich Still Shocked, Angry

by xoverdribble on Jul 4, 2007 9:03 AM PDT Comment 18 comments

Fantasy Junkie here and I'm going to hijack this diary to post on the main page. Thanks to xoverdribble for posting the link in the diaries. Here's the original diary.

Check out Marcus Thompson's article on JRich's reaction to the trade:

http://www.insidebayarea.com/sports/ci_6296482

Obviously, he wasn't very happy about the trade. Shows how much he cared for the team. I'm glad he's starting to look forward to his new challenge at Charlotte. I'll be rooting for Charlotte as long as JRich is there.

But in an effort to clean up the diaries and not lose the comments, I'm taking it off of there, and putting it up here with my own thoughts. So it's my thoughts from here on out.

The dunk that closed off the Mavs

We've covered some of our thoughts on how the JRich trade went down but haven't heard his side of the story and how it went down. Apparently, he felt betrayed and was angry by Mullin's actions. Marcus Thompson II recently wrote an article with some very interesting quotes, J-Rich still shocked, angry about trade. I'm know there always two sides to a story, but here's the perspective from the player's side.

"I understand it's a business," Richardson said. "I was kind of thrown off about the way they went about the situation. (I would've preferred) they inform me that they were trying to trade me. We kind of knew all along that I was going to be the one to get moved. But all along, it was 'Jason is the franchise, he's this, he's that. ... He's not going anywhere.'"

It doesn't seem like Mullin gave the face of the franchise for the previous 5 years, the right send off. If that was me, I would feel betrayed too. I pour my heart and soul into a company for 6 years, they tell me they want to keep me, and then boom, I'm gone. Mullin should have told him straight up, "JRich we're looking to trade you." It wasn't like it was a secret that JRich was being shopped. We had countless rumors on the site with JRich going this place and that. Just be up front with the guy who has kept the fans around and worked his butt off for you and the organization. But I guess that's Mullin's M.O., only he and his inner circle can really know what's going on. Anyone outside of that circle are told lies to throw them off, including players, media, fans, etc. Expect the unexpected from Mullin and co.

But JRich is looking towards his future and embracing the new situation. Like I said before, Michael Jordan is going to make him a better player. He'll be learning from the best 2-guard ever and the best player ever. Plus, he's Jordan's biggest investment as the new decision maker so he does not want to look bad on this one. I'm sure he'll push JRich hard and refine his game.

"I didn't know M.J. wanted me like that," Richardson. "There's no better feeling to me than winning, and he's the same way. A lot of people can't take that (pressure) from him, that's why I think other players have had problems. It's going to be a challenge for me. I know I'm not close to his level, but how many people would turn down the opportunity to learn from the best that ever played?"

Then the article turned to a reflection of his time spent in the Yay and the appreciation he had for us fans.

"I had so much love for that team, for that city, because of the fans," he said. "From the time I was drafted until the time I got traded, they supported me. You always want that, to remain with a team your whole career. You get accustomed to the city, you buy a house there, you get a good fan base.

"You always envision that. But how many guys actually finish with the team they start? ... I just want to say thanks to them. Thanks for the love, and I love them."

Nothin but respect for the man. Good luck to JR in Charlotte. He can lead that team to the playoffs provided we don't steal GWallace from them (but I hope we do). I'll be at the Charlotte game when JRich returns. Will he go nuts and drop 50? Probably not. But it will definitely be a fun game to be at. Definitely check out the article if you're still a JRich fan.

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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Me Too

I'm Warriors to the bone, but I still love J-Rich. I want Charlotte to succeed, just not when they play the Warriors. I'm so glad I purchased his orange jersey. Seeing that will bring back memories for the years to come.

by Golden Boy on Jul 4, 2007 9:26 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

This is why i love jrich

"You always envision that. But how many guys actually finish with the team they start? ... I just want to say thanks to them. Thanks for the love, and I love them."

This guy is such a warrior- in every sense of the word. I dont think it will really hit me that hes gone until the season starts.

by Dubs4Life on Jul 4, 2007 9:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Damn

I had been looking for an article like this...still reeling from the trade. I hope he drops 50 on us every time. (in a losing effort of course)

J-Fuc*ing Rich is the man.

by phiLthyphiL on Jul 4, 2007 9:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I wonder

how J-Rich will approach his first appearance back in the Oracle? Will he hold a grudge against us and use that as motivation for the Bobcats to win? Or will he play like he always played for the past six years? I certainly hope it's for the latter, not the former.

by Phil T28 on Jul 4, 2007 9:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He definitely understands

it wasn't the fans who abandoned him so the grudge won't be against us (the fans). However, I'd expect him to return with a vengeance to prove Mully and the organization made a huge mistake. ugh... the last line of that article is almost painful to read.

makes me wonder. sure 'business is business' but passion/loyalty/commitment are intangibles money just can't buy. is basketball all about nuturing players til they reach All-Star caliber then shipping them out while their hot? Buy low, sell high? Can we expect the same with Biedrins? with Wright if he blossoms? sigh.

I know. a myriad of factors involved but I at least can't help but wonder if that underlying motive was somehow involved

Anyway, best with the 'Cats X-Dub #23; you'll be missed

___

by Anomaly on Jul 4, 2007 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

correction

"nurturing players" (from above); nuturing or 'neuturing' players would be a whole other volume entirely lol

___

by Anomaly on Jul 4, 2007 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'd expect

a 40+ point night for JR his first time back. We could have another Webber on our hands. You remember after he was traded he would regularly drop triple doubles on the W's in the early years.

Let's Go Oakland! Gas, Brake, Dip.

by OaktownFunk on Jul 4, 2007 9:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Haha

Ooops. Just dropped a repeat post. There's just that much love for JR around here.

by Atma Brother ONE on Jul 4, 2007 10:28 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

We were lucky to have him

That saddens me the way the front office handled it. Why did they have to make it a big surprise like that? I don't know, it seems that you can open up a bit with your marquee player, one whose been with the organization for all that time. I really respect the work Mullin & co have done this year, but reading about how this trade went down, after Richardson and his agent were so upfront about the situation makes me a little reserved and wary.

I hope he does well in Charlotte. I just don't have a lot of confidence about MJ as a GM. Hopefully his time will come with Richardson leading the team. He is a fantastic choice as a newly mature player to lead a team with a lot of talent but not a lot of experience. The fans will love him.

by walkerp on Jul 4, 2007 10:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

JRich was special

because he was in a lot of ways "old school" - playing hurt, cool with reporters, respected the fans, loyal ... kinda makes you wonder why this isn't still so? that wasn't always unusual, special, unique - it was part of being a professional. Al Attles used to talk about the professionalism of the previous generations of players until the big $$$ took over everyone and everything ... hopefully JRich is successful as Wallace's replacement (the guess here is that Char knew they were losing him to FA). Even he said he knew he would likey be moved so it's not a complete surprise, he's getting paid well, and the fans out there are going to love him...

by hardcore on Jul 4, 2007 10:44 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I

hope J Rich does prove Mullin wrong and shows him how big of a mistake it was. As someone on here always says, you don't dump guys like J Rich for salary space, you dump it to bring guys like J Rich in. If it wasn't for him this franchise would have stayed a float the last 6 years. I just hope he's treated better by MJ in Charlotte then he was by Mullin.

J Rich.
oneluv.
onedub.
always.

by J Rich 4 MVP on Jul 4, 2007 10:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Correction

wouldn't* have stayed a float

by J Rich 4 MVP on Jul 4, 2007 10:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

the trade gives me a reason to buy nba ticket!!

i took a break after the season and have been reading the blog, but not logging in, since the finals were over. i logged in today so i could post in this thread.

first i want to say that i am not negative about the warriors franchise, but i feel similarly about mullin as jrich does. business is business, but the business of telling your fans one thing and then doing another is bad business! he did not have to say anything at all about the prospect of trading jrich. it is much simpler to say "i do not discuss player moves until i make them" which he has also been known to say.

i am glad somebody finally found jason to get his reaction. his comments were exactly what i expected from a man who i consider to be one of the 10 best warrior players in the history of the franchise.

some more thoughts on what i expect out of this trade...

jason will flourish in charlotte as the vet of his new team
charlotte will make the playoffs
jrich will finally make an all star team(unless kobe ends up in the east)
richardson will go off at the oracle
warriors fans like me will loathe jrich's absence on the radio, on the internet and in the arena when he is in town
warriors have less alley-oops to watch next season
bay area nba ticket buyers will be glued to their tv's for every bobcats vs wizards game
new warriors players have no example of a player who "walks the walk", but who also never "talks the talk"
mullin will not get the team another star player and possibly will not get a deal done with that trade exception either - i dont remember which trade it was for, but i am quite sure that mullin did not use the last trade exception he received(approx $7mil)

i will always be a jrich fan! i need to change my signature. maybe i can change it to "who will be next to drop bombs from downtown oakland?"

by stedanko on Jul 4, 2007 11:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

A Good Move and why

a few points:

the only thing MJ is going to teach JRich is how to get his golf score down. i dont think MJ is much of a teacher and he is a crappy executive.
JRich was a prisonor of his own salary. the guy was overpaid, he is a great 3rd banana (james worthy was the best 3rd banana of all time) but you cant pay a third banana like a 1st banana.
this is all about Nellie trying to clean up Mullie's mess (created before nelly came back by signing those 4 or 5 bad contracts). Nellie is doing a pretty incredible job of this. he has shedded alot of bad contract. Murphy, Dunleavy, Rich.
this "trade" is not done so we cant judge it yet. the trade exception is going to put us into play for the KG sweepstakes but unlike most others, I think we are positioning ourselves to be the

3rd team (i.e; the team that gets the Amare or Marion or Odom/Bynum out of the deal)
-you have a 3 year window to make a run with Nellie and Baron leading the way, which is why they are willing to dangle the kids out there in hopes of landing KG or Amare. i imagine that this is the thinking. not to leverage the future completely (especially since the young guys are a big part of the now) but to double down and play out the hand that is nellie's return and Baron's resurgence.

i say go for it. if you build the team around monta then baron and nellie wont be around by the time that tree really starts providing good fruit. i am not saying trade him but if we could land amare nor KG then i say no one other than Baron is untouchable.
re-sign barnes. say good bye to air france.

peace.

by stuart smallball on Jul 4, 2007 12:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

agree with the MJ point

how exactly is MJ going to make him a better player?

by Nellieball on Jul 5, 2007 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

man this is why we love J Rich

He always put the fans first and the Franchise. He worked his ass off on his game.remember people said he can't shoot in his rookie year. Now all of sudden his a good 3 point shooter cause he worked hard, he showed heart out there every game, never bitchin to the media about the team. and he kept his promise last season. Even though we all liked Baron now but b4 he was bullsh!t he only thought about himself, he only went to some of the games when he was injured. When J Rich was hurt he was there every game, working out b4 every game for his hand to heal. that's why we loved him. so all you J Rich haters out there shut the hell up yall don't know wsup we been though wid him. J Rich a True Warrior