Don Nelson Returns for 1 More Season

by Fantasy Junkie on Sep 13, 2007 11:26 PM PDT in Links

Don Nelson is returning for at least one more season. The deal hasn't been formally signed but the terms have been agreed upon.

Don Nelson, the coach who last season helped vault the Warriors back into playoff prominence after a 12-year absence from the Golden State bench, has reached an agreement in principle with the team on a reworked deal that will bring him back for at least one more season.

Nelson, who originally signed a three-year deal in August 2006, relented and accepted the team's initial offer made several weeks ago. His base salary for each of the remaining two years will jump from $3.1 million to $5.1 million, but the final season is now a team option rather than guaranteed cash.

"I'm excited to come back and coach the team," Nelson said. "The Bay Area's perfect for us (Nelson and wife Joy), I love working with Mully (executive vice president Chris Mullin), I love the staff. There's so many positives here."

Finally, the drama is over and the players can all settle in and stop worrying about if they'll have their leader back. Make no mistake about it, the players loved Nellie as their coach and want to play for him. Bringing in a new coach would hae been devastating.

As a fan, it's a relief to know that both sides were able to work out a deal to bring the coach back. Coach Nelson was the one who actually gave in as he accepted the deal the Warriors proposed a few weeks ago. Once again, the front office has gotten what they want at the price they want. It's a good sign that they know how to manage their money, but it would have been a disaster had Nellie just walked away. Seems like a fine line, but so far this offseason, the organization has not been burnt. Is this another sign of better things to come? Cohan, Mullin and co making sound business and basketball related decisions? What has this world come to? It must be opposite day.

This is good for the franchise, good for Nellie, good for the players, good for Keith Smart (1 more year of grooming) and most importantly, good for us fans. It takes a load of worry away and now we can concentrate on the more important things during this offseason like if the Patriots cheated their way to a dynasty, if the Raiders will win a game before the Warriors do, or if vegetarians eat animal crackers (YaoButtaMing's favorite question).

How do you feel? Relieved? Upset? Anxious?

Thanks to BlueNgoldBlood for the scoop in the diary BREAKING NEWS: Don Nelson signed for 2 more yrs and baller90210 and Sleepy Freud for posting links.

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Comments

HOLLA!

There is a god!

by Atma Brother ONE on Sep 13, 2007 11:15 PM PDT reply actions

wow

BIG sigh of relief!

by Five Ten Entertainment on Sep 13, 2007 11:16 PM PDT reply actions

w00t!q

I doubt he'll coach a 3rd year due to health and stress, but our path is now much, much clearer for the immediate future.

Warriors fans rejoice!

Questions? Complaints?

(AIM: JetForze; email: Jon.d.ma@gmail.com)

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Sep 13, 2007 11:17 PM PDT reply actions

hallelujah

he is back!!

by frankiescgswhoops on Sep 13, 2007 11:20 PM PDT reply actions

Great news

and now can we settle the Pietrus situation? Please Nellie~

by semarubaka on Sep 13, 2007 11:40 PM PDT reply actions

By that time

His anointed KSmart is ready. Remember his two previous pupils who excels? Right, Popovich and Avery.
He is the winningest coach in the league. If I remember right, he needs 35 wins to surpass Lenny Wilkens and perhaps that will be the key to HOF.
He is richer by 5.1M.
He had the whole season and roster he likes and loves to motivate them for Western Conference Finals for him to collect additional 1.5M.

by muritqua on Sep 14, 2007 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Thank

the good lord! Now, get to work boys!

Playa's Ball

by tadams1080 on Sep 14, 2007 5:50 AM PDT reply actions

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHHAHA

If War brings peace Dubz wit' it den!

by gsdubz on Sep 15, 2007 12:18 AM PDT up reply actions

Nellie

Right on Coach Nelson!

by Neo on Sep 14, 2007 8:08 AM PDT reply actions

Thanks for coming back...

Am I the only one that's upset at management for hardballing him? Nelson did more in one season for the warriors than everyone else has in the past 13. This isn't even counting his previous tenure. I hope this doesn't come back and bite the warriors community in the butt when management has to decide on nellie's situation next year.

by ThermoElectro on Sep 14, 2007 8:47 AM PDT reply actions

There's an offer on the table for Nellie

a 5 year consulting job worth $1M total that kicks in next year. So Nellie basically didn't get extra money in the deal per se. But he earned his money in an easier way. (instead of two more years coaching, he'll coach a year and just hang around the facility for 5 years and chill and drink with Mullin. oh and tell him occasionally if the trade he's planning is stupid.) Yes, 5 years is longer but it's less demanding and i'm assuming he can be a consultant while chilling in Hawaii.

Also, if the Warriors pick up the option next year, which is still possible of course, then he earns the extra money he's been asking for.

It's just being smart on the Warrior's part. Why give him the money if he won't be coaching your team. Obviously, they still want him they just don't want to get screwed over. Most likely if the Warriors have another good year and Nelly still want to coach then activating the option should not be as messy as what happened this year.

by lightz0ut on Sep 14, 2007 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Didn't know about the consulting part.

That's actually a good compromise on both sides. I retract my anger...

by ThermoElectro on Sep 14, 2007 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Nellie will die a Warriors

With the additional condition that Nellie will be a consultant for the team for 5 years, it is safe to say that our franchise will stay on a good path for years to come and that Nellie will die as a Warriors. I think that makes me 1000 times more comofortable, because even though Keith Smart will end up taking over, Nellie will be behind the scenes making sure things are right.

And who knows, maybe he'll push Mullin into a coaching role some day?

1 Dub fo sho.

If War brings peace Dubz wit' it den!

by gsdubz on Sep 14, 2007 9:50 AM PDT reply actions

Warrior not Warriors lol

If War brings peace Dubz wit' it den!

by gsdubz on Sep 14, 2007 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions

+1

Whoohoo!!!

by Caught Backcourt on Sep 14, 2007 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions

i knew he was eventually gonna sign

but he didnt hav to hold out this long i mean he coulda been doing things with mullin on how to make the team even better instead of gettin more money in a contract he'll get more if they go to the playoffs and get far in them too i just held out to long for me

by gswLLBatman on Sep 14, 2007 5:08 PM PDT reply actions

bout time

took a while longer then i thought but i knew he'd be back

by AJC3317 on Sep 14, 2007 6:06 PM PDT reply actions

Party time!!!

Back to the playoffs 2.

by callahan on Sep 14, 2007 7:22 PM PDT reply actions

Noooooooooooooooo!!!

Oh well, it was inevitable....

Tony.psd = Da Man

by Zorgon on Sep 14, 2007 7:26 PM PDT reply actions

I cannot WAIT

for GSOM Night at the Arena II!

by Erin on Sep 14, 2007 8:12 PM PDT reply actions

"We're very upbeat about this season. ...

I just want to go kick some ass."

nuff said

by hardcore on Sep 15, 2007 1:13 PM PDT reply actions

Chronicle Article

has some interesting points. First, Nellie stated "Mully's the guy that changed my mind (to accept the offer)". He later said his goal is to get Mullin an executive of the year honor and also gave him the credit for constructing the team.

Regarding the future, Nelson's excited to work with 4 rookies and noted that's the most he's ever had before (this could make it difficult for another rookie, Pierre Pierce, to make the team) and that he does indeed expect to coach for the next two years if the warriors ask him to come back for 08-09.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/15/SPDIS6DT4.DTL

by BingBluNT on Sep 15, 2007 2:15 PM PDT reply actions