OPEN THREAD: NBA Trade Deadline, 12pm PST

Rumor: Rockets-Hornets Trade

This is just a rumor, but apparently the Hornets are looking to improve their depth by acquiring Mike James and Bonzi Wells in exchange, the Rockets get a backup PG in Jackson and some future salary cap help.

Sources have told ESPN.com that the Hornets and Houston Rockets were in final discussions Thursday on a multi-player deal that would send Mike James and Bonzi Wells to New Orleans for Bobby Jackson, Adam Haluska and a second-round draft pick.

Different variations of the deal evolved Wednesday evening, and the Memphis Grizzlies had gotten involved in a possible three-team scenario. But the main part of the deal, essentially James and Wells for Jackson, was almost certain to go through before the 3 p.m. ET NBA trading deadline, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the talks.

by Fantasy Junkie on Feb 21, 2008 9:11 AM PST reply actions

houston did well

getting out form under james' contract. bonzi didnt work out there like they thought he might.

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 9:21 AM PST up reply actions

pietrus

has to be gone today doesnt he? i cant imagine he'll be here at noon.

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 9:22 AM PST reply actions

Jermaine O'Neil

anything about J O'Neil coming to the warriors recently?

NaFAn!

by Warriors219 on Feb 21, 2008 12:08 PM PST up reply actions

please no...

I think Jermaine O'Neal has run out of good years.

by kinetic on Feb 21, 2008 12:24 PM PST up reply actions

Please, no trades.

I, for one, hope that Mullin doesn't give into the west-pressure and makes a trade that puts the team's future in jeopardy. Nellie won't be around too much longer, and the young ones will be able to play sooner than many of us think.

Elton Brand, O'Neil, or Artest aren't going to help us win a championship. I say we roll the dice with what we have, and let the other teams in the west give up all hope for a long-shot this year.

by AngelintheInfield on Feb 21, 2008 9:24 AM PST reply actions

i HATE

this "wait til next year" attitude. the point is to win championships. sure, its a long shot but if we keep playing for the future we'll never get anywhere. we played for the future for about 12 years. i'm not saying take on oneal's 20 mil salary for the next two years but if artest costs us a pick plus some expirings and the tpe or even harrington, why the hell not? we'd have a much better chance at making the playoffs AND doing something when we get there and thats what its all about. baron may not last much longer and nellie gives us a better shot to win a championship than whoever the next guy will be. go for it mully!

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 9:45 AM PST up reply actions

Sillyness...

You're not going to get Artest for just expirings and a pick. They can get that from somebody outside their division.
Have you noticed all of the trade diaries? Not a single one of them has come up with something that will push us into title contention while simultaneously being a remotely sensible trade.
Unless Mully can fleece somebody, we're not going to make any "title contention" moves. Live with it. Wait till next year when the gambles that the Mavs/Suns took stop paying off.

by Dubs fan in Boston on Feb 21, 2008 10:17 AM PST up reply actions

sillyness?

thats what denver is offering. sac is holding out for kliza but denver isnt budging. it isnt like sac is making a playoff run this year and artest wouldnt be back next year so the "in the division" argument is moot.

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 10:44 AM PST up reply actions

If the question were:

Artest for expirings to Denver

or

Artest for expirings to GSW

What's the difference? Regardless of whether they're in playoff contention this year, they'd still rather not help out a division rival, so he'd go to Denver. It's not a moot point. If we offered something better, they might bite, but we can't and we won't.

Regardless, Artest does not in any way make us a title contender. We still get owned by Utah, we still get owned by SA, and we've got a shot against Dallas, NO, Houston, Phx, LAL, DEN.

by Dubs fan in Boston on Feb 21, 2008 11:40 AM PST up reply actions

Hahaha

there are flaws in your analysis.

In a way your proposed trade of sending Al + picks and expirings to Sac for Artest could be a move for the future. We'd get out from under Al's remaining two years and 18+MM. More cap room.

But getting Artest while giving up Harrington? That makes us better? umm..no. It'll probably make us worse because of the team chemistry and ball hogging attitude Ron has.

There's no one available that is going to vaunt us into the next tier of teams. We might as well make minor moves at most (such as moving MP, POB or Barnes) for something the FO feel we're lacking.

Making moves in the summer is the smartest decision.

Warriors, Stupidest franchise in the league.

by kenntoe on Feb 21, 2008 10:21 AM PST up reply actions

Preach on Brotha!

Forizzle. We'll know what Monta/Beans want. We'll know who's available and be able to make some nice lowball offers that the folks that recently signed Shaq, Kidd, and Gasol won't be able to match. We'll be there, we just ahve to be patient.

by Dubs fan in Boston on Feb 21, 2008 10:37 AM PST up reply actions

haha

1. you really believe artest wouldnt make us a better team than harrington? have you ever seen artest play, because thats ridiculous. artest can do everything harrington can do on offense AND he's the best one on one defender in the league with the ability to guard 4 postitions. oh yea, and he rebounds. and he hustles EVERY night. yea its a bit of a risk since he wants the ball a lot, but if you gave him all of pietrus and al's shots and he was on a playoff team i think he'd be happy.
2.harrington's contract isnt exactly killer, not someting we need to "get out from under."
3. team chemistry? everyone thought the jackson/harrington deal last year would disrupt our locker room. didnt exactly play out that way did it? artest gets along fine with jackson, who gets along with baron and those are the 2 captains and leaders. how do you figure it to be a disruption.

stop being so scared, take a chance. playing for the future wont get us anywhere. what do you think we'll suddenly be able to do over the summer that we cant now? in case you missed it the lakers will still have gasol, bynum, bryant, and odom next season. the hornets will still have paul, peja, chandler, and west. portland will be even better. utah will still have deron williams and boozer. the west is going to be tough for a LOOONG time, we arent going to wait out any of those teams.

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 10:40 AM PST up reply actions

um, isiah is that you?

This is basically like adding Zach Randolph to the Knicks. Artest is a better player than Harrington, but Al's a much better shooter. Artest is what you call a "ball stopper". Dubs got 3 guys who already pound the ball in BD, Jack, and Monta.

Artest's strengths offensively mirror BD's & Jack's (posting up smaller defenders). Sadly, he's not even the spot up shooter that Pietrus & Al are. Pietrus even has a better true shooting % than Artest and we all know Pietrus is shooting horribly this year. Artest is also a horrible foul shooter.

Artest rebounds? Okay... let's just ignore facts. You do realize he has a worse rebounding rate than Al & Pietrus? You could argue Al plays the 4 more than Artest does, but Pietrus? Everyone thought Al's rebounding rate would go up once he moved from the 3 to the 4, but it hasn't really changed.

Artest's main plus would be perimeter defense, but that's semi-negated by having him play the 4. Who knows if anyone actually fears him, but he might give you a mental advantage because everyone knows that, w/ him, it's not just a bad reputation, this guy is certifiably crazy. On the flip side, he could also deflate the dubs w/ unnecessary flagrant fouls or techs. Who knows how that affects the refs mindset - dubs might receive an even worse whistle.

If we didn't already have a similar player in Jack, I would be more willing to part w/ Al for Artest. Jack's not as good physically, but a lot tougher mentally. I would of only done the trade for part of the exception and Pietrus (maybe throw in POB too).

They do need an intimidator, but on the inside. They swung & missed w/ KG. Outside of Brand, there might not be anyone else available who fits that need.

by the evil monkey on Feb 21, 2008 10:08 PM PST up reply actions

what?!

you say you dont want to mess up chemistry by trading al for artest.....but then you'd move barnes???!!! makes no sense at all.

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 10:48 AM PST up reply actions

i dont think mullin

isnt getting any offers good enough for peitrus. last i read was juan dixon and someone else or the walter hermann and another primo brezrec... who? what? why? thats a slap in the face.

i think if we should be happy with what we have and roll with it. why take a chance and take on elton, JO or artest for BW, Bellinili or draft picks? i know thats what teams are asking for cause i wouldnt ask for peitrus thats for sure!

win or lose... playoffs or lottery... i gotta luv them dubz! GSW 4 Life!!!

by gogomaplata on Feb 21, 2008 10:14 AM PST up reply actions

Randolph to the Nugs

SI's Ian Thompson reports that if the Nuggets fail to land Artest, they could make a run at New York's Zach Randolph. It sounds like it would be pretty much straight up Nene for Randolph, but it would only go down if they can't get Artest.

I really wouldn't mind seeing Randolph in the Western conference where we'd get to abuse him an extra 1-2 games every year.

then we will fight in the shade.

by Swamp Thing on Feb 21, 2008 9:25 AM PST reply actions

Oh yea but RUMOR

Sorry if it wasn't clear, but that's a RUMOR, and only if they don't get Artest.

then we will fight in the shade.

by Swamp Thing on Feb 21, 2008 9:26 AM PST up reply actions

i dont think

mullins gonna pull the trigger on a deal for pieutrus.

win or lose... playoffs or lottery... i gotta luv them dubz! GSW 4 Life!!!

by gogomaplata on Feb 21, 2008 9:44 AM PST reply actions

asdf

i'm either going to be really happy about a trade or really upset.

don't do me wrong mullie, don't do me wrong.

"TIMEOUT IN BARON'S HOUSE"

by the noTORious TOR on Feb 21, 2008 9:47 AM PST reply actions

Please no sideways trades....

This team needs one more impact player, not a role player swap. If anything, the team chemistry is W's strong suit. I'd rather see them as is then bring in a big man that just can rebound well...

by ThermoElectro on Feb 21, 2008 9:56 AM PST reply actions

Only 2 hours left

until all the speculation and hope talk ends.

Proud Sponsor Of: The San Jose Giants Baseball Team 2008 is gonna be big! http://www.greenlightjerky.com

by GreenLightJerky on Feb 21, 2008 10:01 AM PST reply actions

sounds like marion could be on the move again..

http://blogs.phillynews.com/inquirer/live/2008/02/tick_tick_tick.html

that would be dope for cleveland...hope it happens

by JudBooshlur on Feb 21, 2008 10:11 AM PST reply actions

Ben Wallace to the Cavs

Ryan, Chicago: Please tell me Ben Wallace is on the move

Chad Ford: (1:24 PM ET ) Maybe ... call was about Ben Wallace in a possible deal with the Cavs. I've got to stress that it was from what I'd call a third party source ... not someone directly involved in the negotiations. So ... take it with a grain of salt ... but interesting ...

Chad Ford: (1:25 PM ET ) The deal as I heard it ... by the way ... had Drew Gooden, Ira Newble, Shannon Brown and Cederic Simmons coming back to Chicago.

It's startling how so many people watch basketball, yet so few actually play it.

by 3 The Hard Way on Feb 21, 2008 10:29 AM PST reply actions

wow

thats nuts

win or lose... playoffs or lottery... i gotta luv them dubz! GSW 4 Life!!!

by gogomaplata on Feb 21, 2008 10:37 AM PST up reply actions

Your own words?

Do you have an opinion on this? Please don't just post what anybody can read on the chat that's linked above. It just clutters the thread. If you wanted to say "That's ludacris! Ben Wallace sucks! Why would anybody want to trade anything for him?" like I do, say it.

by Dubs fan in Boston on Feb 21, 2008 10:38 AM PST up reply actions

re:

this trade will get Ferry Fired if he does it

It's startling how so many people watch basketball, yet so few actually play it.

by 3 The Hard Way on Feb 21, 2008 10:46 AM PST up reply actions

wow

Thats a bad trade for the Cavs.

by nautica on Feb 21, 2008 10:40 AM PST up reply actions

asdf

hell, as disgruntled as he is...i wouldnt mind signing big ben for the rest of the year. we dont need him on the offensive end except to maybe set some high screens and roll to the basket for easy dunks or lay-ups. he give us that inside presence we have been lacking and an attitude like baron and jax.

"TIMEOUT IN BARON'S HOUSE"

by the noTORious TOR on Feb 21, 2008 10:43 AM PST reply actions

asdf

sorry, i just realized that wouldnt work.

lol

"TIMEOUT IN BARON'S HOUSE"

by the noTORious TOR on Feb 21, 2008 10:46 AM PST up reply actions

asdf

but we can all dream, right???

"TIMEOUT IN BARON'S HOUSE"

by the noTORious TOR on Feb 21, 2008 10:46 AM PST up reply actions

W

OAKLAND: Warriors?

Chad Ford: (1:43 PM ET ) They have had the opportunity to do a big deal ... but seem reluctant to pull the trigger. I think their window is closing and if Denver makes a big deal ... they're the team most likely sitting out of the playoffs in April.

by Asomugha on Feb 21, 2008 10:46 AM PST reply actions

asdf

hater

by WilliamVanLandingham on Feb 21, 2008 10:56 AM PST up reply actions

wow

way to not really answer the question. a "big deal". i wonder who he's talking about. must be ron artest, right?

by Run Dubz Run on Feb 21, 2008 11:22 AM PST up reply actions

why?

whats different about next year? artest gives us a fighting chance against utah or L.A. if all it takes is the 1st round pick, pietrus and the TPE which will expire in a couple months anyway...why not?

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 10:47 AM PST reply actions

not.

You have to look at the other teams windows. Would you rather be competing against 6 teams, or 4? You aren't gonna beat San Antonio, or probably Phoenix. We probably can't take Detroit in a 7 game. You look at 1 or 2 years and these teams will be on their last legs. We could run right by them.

Right now I don't see us any better than a 2 seed regardless. Utah, LAL, DAL, SA, PHX. They will all beat us, regardless of what move we make. It's stupid to trade away someone at this point. We aren't going to do any damage.

by xcoma on Feb 21, 2008 10:55 AM PST up reply actions

still, why not?

baron will be on his last legs too and nellie will be gone. we will undoubtedly give baron a big extension this offseason so in 2 years he'll be slowed and overpayed. monta will be a star, but we dont know what wright will bring and andris still wont be as good as bynum or boozer and probably not even chandler or oden. its not like we'll have a ton of cap room either after extensions to baron, monta, and andris. baron will never be better than he is now. jack will never be better, why not take a flyer on a rental like artest? do you really think he wouldnt be exactly what we are missing? (toughness down low, some rebounding, some outside shooting, a ton of d)

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 11:00 AM PST up reply actions

erp

First of all, you keep going back to artest and assuming all it's going to take is a 1st round, Pete, and the TPE. That's a pretty vast assumption, considering I'm sure he'd already be wearing Blue and Gold if that was the case.

Secondly, I wouldn't do it because it doesn't make us winners. IMO it doesn't even necessarily make us better. The guy's a jackass.

by xcoma on Feb 21, 2008 11:03 AM PST up reply actions

stephen jackson

was a "jackass" til in everyone's mind til he got here. if sac will do it for kliza, expirings and tpe, why not a 1st rounder, expirings and tpe? its better than losing artest for nothing in a few months. plus they get to clear playing time for salmons who will actually be there next year. obviously none of us knows what has been offered, and what it would take to get it done, but i'm saying IF thats all it took...why not?

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 11:07 AM PST up reply actions

Not Necessarily.

Untrue. Stephen Jackson was a "Jackass" in the eyes of the ignorant. He's got his flaws, but anyone who did any research on his situation knew that the guy was just defending himself. The Malice at the Palace was a little less understandable, but IMO it doesn't make him a bad guy. You have to have a coat of steel over your self-esteem not to want to kill people out there.

There's no comparison. Jackson isn't crazy.

by xcoma on Feb 21, 2008 11:13 AM PST up reply actions

my thoughts exactly

from espn's bill simmons-
Because Artest fits in with everything else happening there -- he's crazy, he can play multiple positions, he can play any style, and he'd be absolutely devastating in NellieBall because of his unparalleled talent for guarding bigger players. At crunch time, the Warriors could trot out Biedrins, Artest, Jackson, Ellis and Davis and match up with any team in the West. ... Better yet, they'd be intimidating and nuts and unpredictable and everything else you'd want from a lower seed. I wouldn't want to go anywhere NEAR THESE GUYS if they had Artest. Besides, could you put a price on the emotional Artest/Jackson reunion, even if it only lasted for a few months? We'd have to put stun guns underneath the seats of the first few rows for every Warriors game. I can't handle the thought of Artest playing for Golden State; it's so exciting and crazy that I think I just peed on myself.

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 11:18 AM PST up reply actions

look

Artest is not a 4. He's a 3. Same position as Jax. WHat lineup do you propose? If we ship out Al we'd have to be playing Artest at the 4. While i believe he can guard SOME pf's in the league, can he guard Boozer, Duncan, Shaq? I'm not buying that Artest is a better rebounder either.

Go read TK's Blog, he has some really good points about this issue.

Sac won't give us Artest for cheap. Especially to us. We'd have to take on a crap contract like SAR or KT. Is that really worth it? No. Get over your Artest man love.

Warriors, Stupidest franchise in the league.

by kenntoe on Feb 21, 2008 11:26 AM PST up reply actions

Okay?

Why you tellin' me? I don't want them to get Artest.

by xcoma on Feb 21, 2008 11:31 AM PST up reply actions

thats the worst anti-artest argument ever

he plays the 3 not the 4? really? thats your argument? seriously? have you noticed our coach is don nelson? have you watched any warriors games the past 2 years? the only true 4 we have on the roster is brandan wright and he doesnt play. pietrus, barnes, and al harrington. those are our 4's. which of those make a better 4 than artest? seriously thats ridiculous. the arguments about his attitude or that sac may not give him to us on the cheap i understand. (but dont agree with, why would sac not take a 1st rounder and cap room, when all they stand to gain by keeping him is cap room and less playing time for salmons?) but saying he would be out of position? wow. idiot.

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 11:35 AM PST up reply actions

Maybe... possibly...

Artest might, possibly be better than Al at the 4 (though he's giving up a few inches and a few pounds) but he's not going to be anything more than marginally better. He's not going to fix the "out of position" problem we have now. We're still going to have the SAME PROBLEM. Thus, the move would be sideways or maybe a little upward, but would not in a million years move us into TITLE COTENTION. Stop trying to defend your point.

You're right. Moving Pietrus+TPE+1st for Artest would make us better now.

But it would not make us title contenders and we'd lose Artest and a 1st rounder in the future. So we'd basically be giving up a future 1st rounder for a better chance of losing to Utah. Woohoo!

by Dubs fan in Boston on Feb 21, 2008 11:54 AM PST up reply actions

if you think

artest couldnt handle boozer, duncan and the other big 4's 10 times better than any of our guys now do, youve never seen him play. jackson might be our best defender against 4's right now. I dont think artest is giving up any pounds to harrington. i know he's shorter and listed as lighter, but look at them....i dont buy it at all. i get that its a little bit of a risk, but giving up a late 1st rounder is worth it to have a fighting chance against utah, new orleans, or LA in the playoffs. Like simmons said-who wants to go near a biedrins, artest, jackson, ellis, baron lineup in crunch time?

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 11:59 AM PST up reply actions

So...

Your contention is that Artest would make us a title contender.

My contention is that he won't.

You're entitled to your opinion... I'm just glad you're not actually running the Warriors FO.

by Dubs fan in Boston on Feb 21, 2008 12:06 PM PST up reply actions

ok

yea i think we can agree to disagree there. i'm not saying title favorites. i'm just saying he gives 'em a shot and a pick isnt much to part with for a shot at winning a playoff series or two..or three or four. i'd rather win a playoff series than have another belinelli type project burried on the bench next year. but, i'm glad i'm not running them either, as i never wouldve brought nelson back.

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 12:10 PM PST up reply actions

Word

I've been flying smoke signals in hopes that Mullin would respond and at least get us some depth. Everybody is concerned about their job and reputation IMO.

Oh well...next year...errr...when Kobe retires, maybe we've got a shot...errr...maybe when Oden and Roy are ready for FA...ahhh...forget it.

We've got Bellinelli and BW to look forward to...we are going to be unstoppable...I'd bet my Prius on a ring in 7 years! Kosta!!!

Seriously though...fingers and toes crossed that all of you are right about the young players...I sincerely hope I end up eating my words.

by Hoof on Feb 21, 2008 12:19 PM PST up reply actions

Oh boo hoo.

Nothing you had in mind would have gotten us a ring this year or next year anyways, so your argument is moot. You're just griping for the sake of griping. Armchair GM's always think they know what's best.

by xcoma on Feb 21, 2008 12:22 PM PST up reply actions

but

he has a point. what are we waiting for? the mavs will continue to be good as long as cuban is willing to pay five times as much luxury tax money as us. the lakers are loaded for the next 5-7 years. portland...wow. new orleans is just getting started with paul, west, and chandler. utah is going to have boozer and williams together for as long as stockton and malone were. god help us if the kids in minnesota ever put it all together or seattle puts a legit pg and big man next to KD. things arent going to magically get easier. in 5 years nellie will be gone and we can only hope baron will slightly resemble the player he is now. its not all doom and gloom, monta, beans, and wright, thats nice to start with but its not going to get us any closer than we are now. i'd rather take a chance, even if it isnt a great one, than always be playing for the future.

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 12:38 PM PST up reply actions

You can't help it

You always come off sounding ridiculous and angry.

But that's fine...you can act like you know me...

by Hoof on Feb 21, 2008 12:55 PM PST up reply actions

wahhhh.

These words cut like knives :(

by xcoma on Feb 21, 2008 1:56 PM PST up reply actions

Rebounding

Is the main problem with that scenario. Artest is a poor rebounder for his size -- significantly worse than Harrington (5.1 per 36 mins v. 7.1). Simmons' proposed five-some would be exciting in spurts, but would feature perhaps the worst-rebounding forward tandem in NBA history. Jack and Artest are both fabulous on-the-ball defenders, obviously, but rebounding is a huge part of defense. <JAE>. No team is going anywhere with a starting forward tandem that rebounds that poorly.

by Sleepy Freud on Feb 21, 2008 12:23 PM PST up reply actions

but

artest currently plays the 3 alonside brad miller and mikki moore and other bigs. he isnt asked to rebound there. harrington plays the 4 and sometimes 5 where he is often the only guy asked to rebound here. cant really project rebounding numbers. i dont think it improves greatly, but i dont think it gets any worse. i do agree it doesnt address one of our most major concerns though.

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 12:29 PM PST up reply actions

Slight edit

Artest actually grabs 5.3 per 36 minutes, not 5.1. Still pretty mediocre. I'd buy he "system" theory if he had ever been able to crack 6.5 boards (per 36), anywhere. His career high is 6.2. I just don't think that cuts it for a starting 4, even in Nellieball.

If I had too rank the "Nellieball starting 4s whom we like to discuss on this board":

Marion >> AK47 >> Artest

Now if we could acquire Artest for SF and Marion for PF...

Baron
Jack/Monta
Artest
Marion
Biedrins
----
6th man: Jack/Monta

That's an actual title contender. Too bad it ain't happening...

by Sleepy Freud on Feb 21, 2008 12:44 PM PST up reply actions

i agree

that marion>kirilenko>artest but artest still coulda played a couple key roles as a tough athletic defender who isnt inept on offense. oh well. guess we'll have to scrape to get in and probably get bounced in the first round. hopefully we can turn this TPE into something on draft day or before.

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 11:48 PM PST up reply actions

TK

no offense to TK (good writer) but he also wanted to deal the entire future (harrington, wright, belinelli, picks, AND take back a bad contract like tim thomas) for Brand. i love ebrand but thats a lot. and he can opt out after this year just like artest, in which case we would never be able to re-sign him and pay monta, baron, and jack. artest is a much less risky move than the one TK wanted to make. doesnt matter now, looks like no trades are gonna happen.

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 11:51 AM PST up reply actions

So, what about Marion?

Seems like if we're going to talk Artest, the Matrix should enter the conversation. Both are pretty much born to play Nellieball, and both are GFIN guys that we could cut loose in the offseason (assuming they don't pick up their player options) in order to re-sign Monta and AB. But Marion --

Is a vastly better rebounder (9.6 rebs per 36 minutes, compared to Ronron's paltry 5.1) who can at least fake being an NBA 4
Doesn't play (anymore) for a conference rival who might be reluctant to send him to us
Is sane

Say, Harrington, POB, MP2 and a pick for Marion? Miami gets a whole lot of salary relief (probably their #1 goal at this point) and a decent, reasonably priced player to boot. And we've at least heard rumors that they've shown interest in MP2...

Tick tick tick...

by Sleepy Freud on Feb 21, 2008 11:55 AM PST up reply actions

Interesting...

That might actually work... But Marion has a player option to stay on at 17M/year. He's going to stay wherever he is because he likes money and he's not going to get more by opting out. Then the question becomes what do we do with Monta/Beans? The only way I see that working is if we go all the way and Cohan decides to open the coffers to keep the core together (Translation: start charging more for tickets).

On top of that, he was a cancer in Phoenix, maybe with our free flowing basketball attitude he'd fit in better here. Don't know about it. I wouldn't be sad if that happened.

by Dubs fan in Boston on Feb 21, 2008 12:02 PM PST up reply actions

i dunno

i think he'll opt out. 17 mil is a lot but he may think he can get more...or a situation where he is the #1 or #2 option.

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 12:06 PM PST up reply actions

yea

im with you on that. i just think marion would cost a little more since miami could probably use marion in a sign and trade for brand or something like that in the offseason. ak47 is another guy who was born to play nellie ball. thought utah probably wouldnt hand deliver us an answer to- how do we defend 4's like boozer and west and duncan and gasol? but you make a good point, matrix would be a far better aquisition than artest, even though he might bring some locker room drama.

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 12:05 PM PST up reply actions

The one problem i have with your scenario's

is that it doesn't address the warriors problems down low. Every championship team that has won the NBA Title in the past 20 years has had a low post threat. The one exception is the Bulls--but--Jordan had probably the best back to the basket in the history of the game. He'd continually put in High % shots and/or get to the line. Look at the teams that round out the top this year you have Utah, San Antonio, Boston, Detroit, Phoenix, New Orleans--they all have a low post threats and each one has a chance to go very far in this year's playoffs.

I fail to see how adding Kirilenko or Artest would help this team get over the hump (now remember i'm not saying it won't make them better). Marion is the only guy that could play between the 3-4 that would work.

I just feel you're thinking rather short-sighted when I'm looking big picture. The Trade Deadline came and gone so it's a moot point.

Warriors, Stupidest franchise in the league.

by kenntoe on Feb 21, 2008 12:42 PM PST up reply actions

thats nonsensical

we dont play the same style as those teams. if we did baron, monta and jack wouldnt be as effective. we do need an upgrade inside but that doesnt mean it has to be a back to the basket player. mismatches are where nellie specializes and why baron (most effective post up guard today) jack and monta are so good here. it means we need a guy who fits our system and can play some d and rebound. thats marion. thats ak47. and to a lesser degree thats artest.

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 11:52 PM PST up reply actions

You are correct.

Which is why i believe we won't win a championship. Its why Phoenix altered its system, its why San Antonio is a dynasty.

I agree that Marion >> AK >> Artest. But we would have to acquire two of the three to be considered elite.

Warriors, Stupidest franchise in the league.

by kenntoe on Feb 22, 2008 12:33 AM PST up reply actions

AB

And Andris will never be a "back to the basket player". He isn't suited for a traditional offense...or defense for that matter so...it begs the question:

"What kind of money do we give AB this year? Should we dedicate it to a more traditional 4 or 5?"

What happens to Ellis in a more traditional style of play? He seems to thrive in the uptempo pace.

Do we extend Nelson? He's not going to change his philosophy.

Kenntoe, are you suggesting a complete overhaul and major adjustments in personnel?

If so, I am intrigued and would love to hear some ideas to this end.

by Hoof on Feb 22, 2008 9:42 AM PST up reply actions

Not trying to be a kenntoe apologist...

I always felt that of all the regular posters here, kenntoe seems to be the least emamored with the current warriors style of play. Its never been a mystery that his perfect NBA organizational model is the SA spurs. He has on multiple occassions suggested reloading and building for the future: whether it be possible future draftees, developing the youngins on the current roster or suggesting possible nelly-replacements.

I don't think I've ever agreed with any of his posts whole-heartedly, but it's his opinion, and honestly, the fact his opinions aren't congruent w/ a majority of posters here, makes his posts refreshing(at least to me). Not to mention his posts are pretty well thought out, he does HIS homework before posting and he's not a jerk to people that don't agree with him.

"To my dear brother, Noompsy."

by Tim N Chris Burger on Feb 22, 2008 11:38 AM PST up reply actions

I totally agree with every point

I also enjoy reading about Kenntoe's perspective on things. I don't want to give him too fat of a head but, I'm always keenly interested in his posts and the questions I posed are completely sincere.

by Hoof on Feb 22, 2008 12:39 PM PST up reply actions

yea

but i disagree that the spurs are a perfect model. this system CAN win in the playoffs. the suns got SCREWED last year, otherwise theyd be wearing championship rings, marion would still be there, we probably wouldve added an artest type and be considered contenders. amazing the effect those ridiculous suspensions have had. its great to able to build a fundamentally sound team that plays great d and slows it down around a guy like duncan, but its not the only way to win.

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 22, 2008 3:24 PM PST up reply actions

AB

"What kind of money do we give AB this year? Should we dedicate it to a more traditional 4 or 5?"

This question is a little misleading. We can't allocate the 8,9,10 mil (whatever he ends up getting paid next year) that would go to Andris to any other player. If we choose to pass on AB we would still be limited to the MLE (apx 6mil) when signing another player. The only way we spend AB's money on another player is through a sign and trade, but those rarely bring back any real talent.

The real questions are:

1) Where do we find a "more traditional" 4/5?

and

2) Is Andris worth breaking the bank for? (10-12mil per year)

We have debated both of these questions here many times but I will give my quick thoughts.

We won't be bad enough to get an impact big in the draft so probably the only way we get one of these guys is through a trade. It won't be easy. They don't grow on trees and everybody wants one. The best thing you can do is stockpile as many assets as possible and hope you have a big expiring contract when one of them demands a trade.
Is Andris going to be a go-to guy in the post? no. Is a 7 footer with great hands who rebounds, blocks shot and is very capable in the pick and roll a valuable commodity? Hell yes.

Look at the Hornets for example. They have West who is a 20pt 9reb guy who can score in the post or with the midrange J. They are lucky enough to also have Chandler who is a 12pt 12reb guy who can block shots, protect the paint, catch lobs and move well for his size (basically very similar to AB). Which one of these guys is more valuable to a team? You could have some really great debates about this but I'm not sure that you could really say for sure. Both will have a lot to do with winning games but undoubtedly West will get more acclaim (Allstar this year).

Sure Andris has his limitations, so does every player, but instead of focussing on his weaknesses we should appreciate what he does for this team. It is not easy to find a player that can do what he can do.

by olympicmike on Feb 22, 2008 1:45 PM PST up reply actions

AB's value

I agree that AB has a unique skill set, but it seems as if he'd thrive far more in a tempo and pace with our current philosophy. How would he respond to more traditional sets?

I love AB's hands. Possibly one of the top three bigs in the NBA in that respect (he's certainly no Dampier or Foyle).

But what can we attribute the rapid decline in blocked shots to? AB has managed to keep himself out of foul trouble far better than in past seasons but he seems to get pushed around alot. I get queasy watching him out of position on the defensive boards though. I suppose that can typically be attributed to his responsibilities with a help defense.

If we sign AB and ME both to big contracts, I would assume we'd be committing ourselves to a Nellieball type pace into the foreseeable future. I don't really have a problem with this. Given hte proper personnel, I think we can compete with the elites.

Portland, the Lakers and Utah are going to be STELLAR for years to come. We may need to land another steal in the late draft to compete on their level!

by Hoof on Feb 22, 2008 2:25 PM PST up reply actions

Blocks

I think that you got it when you said that his fouls have gone down. He is obviously toned down his aggressiveness when challenging shots. I think that probably accounts for the decline (2.1 per 36min to 1.7 per 36min). Hopefully he can find a middle ground where he can stay aggressive and stay out of foul trouble (he is still very young and this usually takes a while).

As far as Monta and AB being effective because of our style of play, I think that is usually a bit overstated. Obviously they are both suited to that style but I don't think that there is any reason to believe that they wouldn't be good players on the Spurs(or any other team with a contrasting style). Maybe their money stats would take a hit, but they would probably contribute to winning just as much as they do here.

Re: Portland, Lakers and Jazz

Yeah the west is going to be viscous for a while longer. I don't think that is reason enough to rebuild right now though. We will probably see just how far this team can go in the next few years before we take a nosedive and hit the lottery again. It is just part of the NBA life-cycle: Rebuild, compete, fade out, stink for a year or two, repeat.

As a fan I'm never afraid of having a year or two where the team is horrible. What I am afraid of is having twelve year where we aren't quite bad enough to land a top talent in the draft and not quite good enough to compete for the playoffs.

by olympicmike on Feb 23, 2008 12:09 PM PST up reply actions

shot changer

sure his blocks have gone down, but I have noticed that opposing penetrators notice he's there more this year. Despite the w's porous defense, I have noticed a lot more missed layups by opponents when AB's in there. When he's not in there, other team's layups are almost a %100 made baskets.

"To my dear brother, Noompsy."

by Tim N Chris Burger on Feb 24, 2008 11:09 PM PST up reply actions

dead on

we dont need a 5 with a post game. andris is very valuable with the skills he has.

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 22, 2008 3:27 PM PST up reply actions

Too many teams that don't match up well

I'll give you the Lakers and Utah, and maybe in a 7 game series San Antonio but Dallas and Phoenix still don't match up well against us. Dallas traded away their only decent shot blocker and Kidd will have a rough time handling Baron or Monta. We can run Shaq right off the floor and we still beat Phx.
The west is still going to be who matchs up better with who. If we get Utah or the Lakers we are one and done. Looking at the others, we have a shot if we play well and Nelson figures out how to use Webber in our rotation. Last night with Biedrins and Webber seemed to work out well.

by tangel29 on Feb 21, 2008 3:37 PM PST up reply actions

i

think we can also handle houston, denver is a tough maybe. I don't think we can handle SA in 7. Lakers and Utah are definite nos. Phx our best chance. Hornets I don't think so maybe we can win 2 but I don't think we can do 7.

by saintdee on Feb 22, 2008 12:56 AM PST up reply actions

cavs

if they arent landing a legit sidekick for king james...who cares?

passes it to the man...and boom goes the dynamite!

by sam23 @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 11:04 AM PST reply actions

Pietrus

I wonder if he will be traded by noon.

I will always be your fan JRich. Good Luck

by chili01 on Feb 21, 2008 11:06 AM PST reply actions

Seeing as how Mullin knows we're expecting a trade

I predict that there won't be one. That's just how he operates..

by ThermoElectro on Feb 21, 2008 11:11 AM PST reply actions

MP2

has to be traded, right? i mean, he has publicly demanded a trade. honestly, i don't want anyone on my team who doesn't want to be there, even if he came up big a few times last night. i love the frenchman, but i hope he gets traded, in basically any move that doesn't HURT the warriors (ie, NOT that previously posted raptors deal)

by Run Dubz Run on Feb 21, 2008 11:24 AM PST reply actions

Pietrus

Pietrus not getting traded or Pietrus not getting traded to the Raptors?

Toronto Raptor: Pietrus. Yes or No?

Chad Ford: (2:14 PM ET ) No

by Fantasy Junkie on Feb 21, 2008 11:33 AM PST reply actions

u wont win a championship with the team we had

nuff said

by djchuckdeez on Feb 21, 2008 11:41 AM PST reply actions

we have* lol

my bad

by djchuckdeez on Feb 21, 2008 11:42 AM PST up reply actions

MP2

the W's stance has never waivered on this...they will only trade him if they can bring in a player that will be part of the rotation. I fully support that. So, there is a GOOD chance he will not be moved IMO.

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

by OaktownFunk on Feb 21, 2008 11:45 AM PST reply actions

asdf

I can't get my question on Chad Ford's chat :( I've been trying forever, I need a fix, I'm still on a high from being at that game last night.

by J Rich 4 MVP on Feb 21, 2008 11:49 AM PST reply actions

asdf

Legler thinks the Nuggets are out of the playoffs.

by J Rich 4 MVP on Feb 21, 2008 11:51 AM PST reply actions

12pm or 1pm???

im watching espn and it says deadline is at 12pm. different times for different timezones??? am i trippen?

by iboughtazarkojersey on Feb 21, 2008 11:57 AM PST reply actions

12 PM

Trade details may rickle out over the next couple of hours though. I honestly thought Mullin was lying in wait to see if Sacto's demands came down on Artest. Possibly the reason why MP didn't move in any smaller deals. Apparently the FO wanted to go big or go home. Looks like home.

Looks like we're going to rely on our 7-8 man rotation. Hopefully the wheels don't fall off with our tolling tempo. The recent SJax and BD ailments are definitely egregious...

by Hoof on Feb 21, 2008 12:08 PM PST up reply actions

12pm ...

deadline is closed

by Dyno Garage SF on Feb 21, 2008 12:13 PM PST up reply actions

no

closes @1PM

by Psion on Feb 21, 2008 12:51 PM PST up reply actions

sorry

i'm wrong it was @12PM

by Psion on Feb 21, 2008 12:56 PM PST up reply actions

I guess no action today :(

Ballin

by ballin on Feb 21, 2008 12:20 PM PST reply actions

Ben Wallace, to the Cavs, pending league approval

Stephen A Smith Show just said, The Cavs got Ben Wallace, Wally Z, and Delonte West.

They haven't clarified what they gave up, but it looks like Larry hughes, Drew Gooden, ira Newble, shannon brown, and a 2nd round draftpick.

This could work for Lebron

It's startling how so many people watch basketball, yet so few actually play it.

by 3 The Hard Way on Feb 21, 2008 12:35 PM PST reply actions

Its a three team trade

The Cavs will get Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak.

The Bulls will get Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden, and Seattle gets Chris Duhon, Ira Newble and Cedric Simmons.

by raymondtee on Feb 21, 2008 12:44 PM PST reply actions

Houston Rockets acquire Gerald Green

Originally posted by Asomugha in a diary.

Rockets trade Kirk Snyder and a 2nd rounder for Gerald Green.

Rockets acquire Gerald Green

HOUSTON -- Minnesota Timberwolves guard Gerald Green tells FOX 26 Sports he has been traded to his hometown Houston Rockets for guard Kirk Snyder and a second-round draft pick.

Green, in his third year in the NBA, went to Gulf Shores Academy High School in Houston. He was drafted in the first round out of high school by the Boston Celtics.

"It's like a dream come true. Never in my life did I think this would happen," Green said. "I am on cloud nine."

Link to the diary

by Fantasy Junkie on Feb 21, 2008 12:48 PM PST reply actions

Juan Dixon

Has been traded. But Toronto will not say what team until league review. Could it be the warriors?

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/305735

by raymondtee on Feb 21, 2008 12:51 PM PST reply actions

Juan Dixon

I was thinking about the same thing. :( If its him for Pietrus then I am very sad, I wanted something bigger.

.:Lost Souls Aliance:.

by DouR on Feb 21, 2008 12:56 PM PST up reply actions

Dixon to Pistons

No worries.....MP2 is still here.

by All About The W on Feb 21, 2008 12:57 PM PST reply actions

Update on that trade

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/51027/20080221/new_details_of_cleveland_three_way/

by raymondtee on Feb 21, 2008 12:57 PM PST reply actions

Chicago-Cleveland-Seattle Deal

3 Way Deal

After Cleveland watched two longstanding trade targets land elsewhere -- Mike Bibby in Atlanta and Jason Kidd in Dallas -- sources say that the deal calls for the Cavaliers to receive Wallace, Szczerbiak, Seattle point guard Delonte West, Chicago's Joe Smith and a future second-round pick from the Bulls.

The Bulls, apparently abandoning their gamble on Wallace less than two seasons into the lucrative four-year deal they used to sign him away from Detroit, would get Cavaliers forward Drew Gooden and swingman Larry Hughes along with Cavs reserves Cedric Simmons and Shannon Brown.

The Sonics, shedding Szczerbiak in the name of additional payroll flexibility, come away with the expiring contracts of Cleveland's Ira Newble and Chicago's Adrian Griffin as well as Cavs veteran Donyell Marshall.

by Fantasy Junkie on Feb 21, 2008 1:14 PM PST reply actions

More from the Chad Ford chat

Ryan (Indianapolis): Everyone says Jermaine O'neal has a low trade value because of the injuries. Why wouldn't someone like Dallas be willing to give give up somthing for him?

Chad Ford: I agree ... it's a mistake in my opinion. I think a team like the Warriors should've made a play for him.

by Fantasy Junkie on Feb 21, 2008 1:16 PM PST reply actions

Chad Ford is smoking crack!

Why are we going to blow up our roster for someone that may not be able to contribute. We need some depth and be trading for O'Neal we ruin any chances we have this year, and in future years since we'd have to give up most, if not all of our rookies to make the deal work.

by tangel29 on Feb 21, 2008 3:44 PM PST up reply actions

We

don't have enough for the future, that's the problem. Ellis will get better, Biedrins will continue improving, but the rest of the players are uncertain. The time is now.

by DubsDominate on Feb 21, 2008 4:01 PM PST up reply actions

Well...

...if we spring for a big name in a trade, you could reasonably kiss Ellis and Biedrins goodbye, for salary reasons.

The time is now? I don't think selling out our future when the conference is at its most competitive is a good idea... at all.

by Zack Vank on Feb 21, 2008 4:45 PM PST up reply actions

I gotta a lot of work

to do on updating my roster on 2k8

Fck Ford, Cpt. Jacks Built To Last!

by protac6 on Feb 21, 2008 1:19 PM PST reply actions

right... and gotta reset my season too!?!

well finally... the trade deadline has come and gone, can we now stop talking about trades or make ridiculous diaries? can we talk playoffs and how hard thats gonna be!

win or lose... playoffs or lottery... i gotta luv them dubz! GSW 4 Life!!!

by gogomaplata on Feb 21, 2008 1:29 PM PST up reply actions

lame

lame lame lame

by djchuckdeez on Feb 21, 2008 1:43 PM PST reply actions

wow

how long are we going to keep building for the "FUTURE".

We've been building for the future for the last 12 or so years dammnit. We pass up on getting KG and now we're just gonna wait for Monta and Biedrins to become good. By the time Monta and Biedrins become good, guys like Wade, Carmelo, Oden, LeBron, Arenas, Dwight, Beasley, Durant, Boozer, Paul, Yao, Williams etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. are already going to be taking over the league.

What a waste of having Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson on the team. I feel bad for those two. Especially Baron Davis who will probably never even get a chance to compete for a championship because the Warriors are always building for the future.

by Five Ten Entertainment on Feb 21, 2008 4:56 PM PST reply actions

AMEN

mah brotha! Although, I'll have to disagree about waiting for MONTA and BIEDRINS to be good, because I think they are good, but not great! That's the question, whether or not they become great like WADE, CARMELO, or LEBRON. Neither one definitely is the #1 player on the team, like the aforementioned players are, so the W's still need to surround them w/ players that are great!

I don't feel sorry for BARON or JAX as much as I do for MULLIN. Sorry to say, but even if, and now it's big IF w/ HOUSTON making some trades, that we make the playoffs, that we'll even get past the 2nd round. Just being realistic. Much like before the INDY trade, I knew the team we had wasn't going to ever win the championship, let alone get into the playoffs. Same thing now. Playoffs = maybe...Championship = NOPE!

Still praying! GO WARRIORS!!!

"S.C. gooooo hooooome!!!"

by scottiepimppen on Feb 21, 2008 6:22 PM PST up reply actions

We didn't...

...pass up on KG, he and the Wolves passed on us.

While we wait for Ellis and Biedrins to get good? Last I checked, they are good. The two guys you decided to single out are the very two who stepped up and allowed us to knock off Boston last night. I put it to you that over the last handful of games, Monta has been the most explosive, offensively efficient guard in the NBA. Biedrins is perhaps less glamorous, but no less impressive at his age. Still notching his virtual double double, still knocking around inside, still shooting 60%+.

You know what's a real good way to end up in a long playoff drought, is to get too trigger happy with your team. Mitch Richmond anyone? Or perhaps not being prepared to extend a young star's contract... paging Gilbert Arenas. Or, of course, giving cap-crippling money to a reasonably good player, hence forcing you to deal them... looking at you guys, Antawn and Jason. To say nothing of the Foyle contract, as well as Dunleavy and Murphy.

My point is, we're FINALLY there, where we have that mix of personnel teams dream about! We've got the established NBA talent to make us a good, competitive team that can make noise in the playoffs, all while grooming the young players to not only contribute a bit now, but to gear them up for down the line. We've seen more fiscal sensibility from the front office in these last two years than for over a decade before. We're not giving out huge contracts to undeserving players, we're drafting well (as I feel Brandan Wright will ultimately vindicate, was thrilled we didn't deal him), and we have our head coach in waiting learning from a legend like Don Nelson. This is a GOOD situation! And a surefire way to turn it into a bad one is to make a trade out of anxiety, or in a moment of weakness.

by Zack Vank on Feb 21, 2008 8:45 PM PST up reply actions

Amen Brother!

(The GSoM slogan du jour).

By PER, Biedrins is the eighth best center in the NBA.

By PER, Monta is the tenth best shooting guard in the NBA. He and Brandon Roy are the only players under 25 in this group.

How many 21 and 22 year-old kids are already top 10 in the NBA at their position?

True studs who are realistically capable of getting us to the promised land are really, really hard to come by. As you say, we didn't "pass up" on getting KG. We whiffed.

And as you say, the worst thing to do when you whiff on the studs is to panic and sell out your team's future for overpriced second-tier semi-stars. That's a fast and slippery slope to being the Knicks, the laughingstock of the league.

by Sleepy Freud on Feb 21, 2008 10:42 PM PST up reply actions

but...

Problem is, unless you can get a Wade, a Carmelo, or a LeBron by trade deadline, you aren't going to contend for a championship in this conference, this year. Period. And as far as I could tell, a star of that caliber was not on the table today.

I'm happier with standing pat versus a short-sighted, panic-induced trade that haunts the Dubs down the line.

Get well soon, Andris...

by Mac @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 21, 2008 6:38 PM PST reply actions

well

Realistically, it's not really necessary to land guys of that upper tier caliber to give you at least a shot of contending. I would support a trade to shore up weaknesses without landing a big name. Addressing things such as interior presence and bench talent can affect your team's success and viability as a contender.

Nothing wrong with standing pat if no real opportunities to improve present themselves. But at the same time, standing pat also means that you either think you can win it all with what you have or you're content to just cross your fingers and see how far you can get this year without an eye on the big prize. Nothing wrong with conceding that you're not at present a championship-caliber team, but i hope it's a goal that management was to achieve in the NEAR future.

I pray i never have to use a gun again.

by ssmokinjoe on Feb 21, 2008 7:11 PM PST up reply actions

I heard...

...that Wade is flirting with nerve damage in that shoulder, so I wouldn't expect a championship out of him anytime soon.

by Zack Vank on Feb 22, 2008 3:31 AM PST up reply actions

Waited all day

I didn't want to visit all day because there was just too much going on .. this is my fourth deadline as a reporter and was by far the most difficult to cover. So much crap was being thrown around.

The Dubs were linked to two names all day: Jermaine O'Neal and Drew Gooden. The Pietrus talk was stupid because we all knew that he wouldn't be dealt unless the team was going to get a 4, which no one was willing to do. There were a lot of teams that wanted the Warriors to help out by sending their TPE elsewhere, but the Warriors simply didn't want to budge. I heard talk that the Warriors were going to be the third team involved in the Ben Wallace deal, but the negotiations ended quickly because the Warriors were asked to give up a trade and were supposedly only going to get back a marginal player.

But the JO talk was legit. I was told that they looked into but felt that his knee would have been a waste to try to figure out how to integrate and they'd rather save money to ensure they can keep Biedrins and Ellis. That has been the MO all season: assess the growth of both of them and figure out what to do later. To say they're happy with Monta is the understatement of the year; they will likely pay him a helluvalot.

Artest wasn't something I heard that much about from people I talk to. He was linked mostly to New York and Denver all day.

The only thing the Warriors officially put on the block was the expiring deal of O'Bryant. I've heard that the Warriors would have taken a mid-2nd rounder for him, but there weren't many offers for him.

There was a lot more that was talked about, but I'm exhausted right now .. my morning started at 3AM PST and I've been going full speed since then because the Hornets/Rockets thing was around then and seriously things kept coming in every hour.

In a few days, I'll get more info and hash some more stuff out. But really, all you need to know is that the fact that no deal was done is directly related to retention of Monta. Trading for anyone was seen as a bad move if it meant payroll issues in bringin him back.

Yawn.

by pree on Feb 21, 2008 8:06 PM PST reply actions

Yawn = Yay!!!

For me, anyway.

Thanks for the inside info, Pree. I look forward to hearing the full recap.

by Sleepy Freud on Feb 21, 2008 10:45 PM PST up reply actions

I don't buy it

"How long are we going to wait for the future? We waited 12 years...etc. etc."

We didn't wait 12 years. I guarantee you we weren't waiting until next year every season. I think it was 03-04 (might be wrong) were our own players thought we were a playoff team. We just sucked.

And besides, does anyone want to spin into another 12 year absence from the playoffs? Because that could very well be the downside of a big trade (well maybe not twelve years, that was ridiculous). I would rather stay within striking distance of the championship and gamble on a big time trade when the conditions are more favorable than gamble this year when so many teams are built for now. For people saying that we are going to have to compete with Portland and the Lakers in the future, I understand that. But being the third or fourth best team is a much more better place to be when considering a big time trade than 8th/9th. The current team has the potential to play with any other playoff team besides Utah. We don't have the most talent, but we have some intangible factor that allows us to keep it close. If we upgrade on our talent, we may lose some of that intangible factor.

And Belinelli doesn't lack skills, just confidence. We saw the confident sharpshooter in his first summer league game spot up for 3s with defenders in his face. In the regular season he hides in the corner. That problem is not irreversible by any means. We've seen Monta and Biedrins already contribute a lot, yet they both still have potential to grow even more. Azubuike showed quality play when he got consistent minutes, and has hit some clutch shots. Wright is still largely unknown, so I don't know. Hell, even Watson has shown the capability of being a scorer, and he has shown a lot of composure in his playing time. But I think the future looks very bright (I really hope the Warriors can find a way to sign Azubuike over the summer though).

And the Warriors did go for KG (who I would have no regrets if they would have traded for), he just didn't want to come here. KG is a player who could have lifted us to the championship. Artest couldn't have.

by belilaugh on Feb 21, 2008 8:16 PM PST reply actions

Not so fast...

We didn't wait 12 years. I guarantee you we weren't waiting until next year every season. I think it was 03-04 (might be wrong) were our own players thought we were a playoff team. We just sucked.

You clearly forget how this team went all in by bringing in Mookie Blaylock.

by Zack Vank on Feb 21, 2008 8:48 PM PST up reply actions

YO WHAT THE HELL

WHERES THE WARRIORS AND THEIR BIG TRADE. IS THAT 10 MILL IN TRADE MONEY JUS GONNA GO TO WASTE?

by gswLLBatman on Feb 21, 2008 9:14 PM PST reply actions

yeah

I've always agreed with the line of thinking of not to trade just for the sake of trading, but i also would rather use the 10 million TPE on SOMETHING rather than let it expire. Have we lost it already? Can we still use it in the off-season?

I pray i never have to use a gun again.

by ssmokinjoe on Feb 21, 2008 9:26 PM PST up reply actions

I believe that.....

You have one full year to use the trade exception, meaning the Warriors could use it all the way up to draft day after the season. I am not certain, but I believe that this is the case.

OakFoSho

by Sneaky275 on Feb 21, 2008 10:01 PM PST up reply actions

it expires a year after we got it....

so since we got it on draft day, its safe to say its ours until the next draft.

"To my dear brother, Noompsy."

by Tim N Chris Burger on Feb 21, 2008 10:08 PM PST up reply actions

I'd only...

...want to use it after we've stitched up Monta and Andris... here's a question for any of you rules and regulations folk, though... on draft day, could we trade the exception for a pick, and if so, does that team have another year to play with it? Cause it seems like Phoenix ditches a pick every year to save cash...

by Zack Vank on Feb 22, 2008 3:35 AM PST up reply actions

I think JAE would know answer to that question...

As far as I know, the TPE isn't something you trade. It is an exception to the trading rules. When you use it, it's gone and the other team gets one of their own.

"To my dear brother, Noompsy."

by Tim N Chris Burger on Feb 22, 2008 11:52 AM PST up reply actions

Forget about trading

if Brent Barry gets bought out by the Sonics, would the Warriors have any chance of getting him and would they want him? I know next to nothing about the guy except that he is a very good three point shooter, 43% this year.

Most likely it's an unspoken thing and he'll return to the Spurs though.

by belilaugh on Feb 21, 2008 10:12 PM PST reply actions

Trade Exception

I would like to see Mullin parlay the exception into some possible draft picks, ala the way Seattle did in squeezing out 2 first rounders from the suns before this last draft. Forget using it for overpriced, underachieving B talent players.

by SLOwarriors on Feb 22, 2008 8:41 AM PST reply actions