No Movin' On Up + Rumor: Warriors Interested in Brent Barry

by Atma Brother ONE on Feb 22, 2008 1:00 PM PST in Rumors

Well this year's NBA trading deadline has come and gone faster than you can say "She keeps on passssssssssssssssin me by!" (shout out to the Pharcyde) and the Warriors did... nothing. Absolutely nothing.

I have to say it's pretty disappointing. The Warriors are only 5 games out of the #1 seed in the entire Wild Wild West and a mere 2 games behind for homecourt advantage in at least the first round of the playoffs- and we all know what happens to teams when they make the trip out to the Roaracle in the playoffs (Game 4 vs the Jazz notwithstanding). Two-way balla Ron Artest (boy the Warriors sure could use his D down the stretch), Bay Area big man Drew Gooden (I swear he could lead the league in rebounding if he played more), and former All-Star bigs Jermaine O'Neal and Elton Brand (admittedly a big IF though about their health this season) in my estimation would've made a big impact.

Do you honestly think the situation is ever going to be this good in the loaded West for the Warriors over the course of the next 2-3 years, coinciding with All-Star snub Baron Davis' prime? Do you really think Baron is going to have another injury-free season like this again? Do you really think Stephen Jackson is going to have another career year like this one? Do you really think the Warriors are going to have a hall of fame coach at the reigns for all that much longer? I don't unless they make some major moves to bolster the talent level of this team.

Make sure to check out my boy Adam's piece "Internal Development" (and other things we tell ourselves at the trade deadline for some other great thoughts.

We're all about the family show here.

But let's move on. Sure the Warriors didn't make a trade, but that doesn't mean there aren't any chances left to improve this team. Buck Harvey from The San Antonio Express-News notes that some Warriors hall of fame lineage might be on the horizon for the Dubs:

Others have noticed [the Sonics waiving Barry immediately after being traded from the Spurs for Kurt Thomas]. The Suns think they have a chance at him now, as does Golden State.

Both franchises can argue they have more playing time for Barry than the Spurs do now, and they would not be wrong. The Spurs don't need Barry the way they needed Kurt Thomas.

Jump with me for more...

In his prime, Brent Barry was everything Mike Dunleavy was supposed to be for the Warriors- a high hoops IQ, versatile player, with nice handles, and a sweet J from downtown. Don't get me wrong though. Brent Barry is nowhere near that level anymore, but if he can get healthy in time he could be a key role player off the bench for Nellie. Brent's still got that shot, handles, and passing ability, plus those Barry intangibles.

Just for fun take a 7th inning stretch with me for a minute. What if the Warriors somehow shocked the world again and went on a huge tear in this year's playoffs with this whole cast? Just think of the storylines of the Warriors winning another title with a Barry and Chris Webber and Don Nelson winning one together some 14 years after the Drama (seriously that deserves a capital "D"). CWebb could retire and open up some rib franchises in the Bay Area. Nellie could ride off into the Maui sunset. The Warriors might finally open their arms and welcome Rick Barry back and act like he exists (seriously, why don't they show that Warriors legend more respect?).

Life is good.

Imagine that. Makes you want to believe- and maybe even believe something funny was in my cereal this morning to even mention such craziness.

Putting aside my delusions of grandeur should the Warriors try to pick up Brent Barry?

99% of rumors never happen, but 99% of them are fun to talk about!

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Comments

Man, I agree with you on all counts

Extremely disappointing (understatement) that they did nothing and wasted the TPE (I think it's becoming a habit). And it's embarrassing how the franchise treats Rick Barry.

The great thing about Rick Barry was, in addition to his skills, the dude just wanted to win more than anyone else. And he didn't want to win because it would mean a bigger contract or highlights on television, he just wanted it more than you did. He was relentless.

I'm not sure Brent shares those qualities, but it would be a fun night at the Roaracle to welcome #24's son back into the open arms of the bay.

by chacabuco on Feb 22, 2008 1:29 PM PST 0 recs

the problem with rick is

his gigantic ego. he believes he should be the head coach right now. i'm appreciative of what he did for the franchise as a player, but i dont want a guy hanging around who is always angling for the head coach job. he wouldnt be a very good one either. he knows his basketball, but really do how would he deal with guys like baron and jack? i think theyd both be woulda been gone within a year of hiring barry as coach.

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

by sam23 on Feb 22, 2008 3:05 PM PST up 0 recs

Not so gloom and doom...

While you make good points about our team, I think the future is much brighter than you allow. Nellie may not be around (with due respect to everything he's done, I think we can be as good if not better with Smart), and Baron may suffer some injuries, but I think the next 3-4 years look incredibly bright for the dubs. Beans and Monta will mature and improve, Wright is looking like he has the potential (read: wingspan) to be a factor, and we have the tools needed in MP and O'Bryant to trade for a player that WILL STAY (I don't want Artest for only two months). To say Jackson is having a career year isn't very illustrative, since he plays a more prominent role on this team that he probably ever has in the NBA. If anything, I think his playing time and leadership status will make a smarter, more mature player over the next few years. It's not like we rely on Jax's legs for rebounds or fast-breaks.

You also have to consider our competition this year. Sure, we are doing incredibly well in absolute terms, but why should that come as a surprise? We have a very good team assembled, and I think most would agree we are only one solid player short of title contention for the next few years. The sun is setting on at least 2-3 teams ranked above us (all of which we're already beating in select games). I fear NO, Utah and the Lakers at this point more than I fear SA, Phoenix or Dallas. In 2-3 years those will be the teams standing between us and a title.

"SCARY HOT!"

by Talimon on Feb 22, 2008 1:36 PM PST 0 recs

You dudes

how can we possibly be better with Smart? It seems that some of you agree with this line of thinking. Don Nelson is a hall of fame coach. You think smart will come close to that?

Some counter with, oh, the system is already in place so it will be easier than you think. To which, I reply, NELLIE IS THE SYSTEM!!! You realize that no other team in the league plays like us? Sure there are similarities between us and phoenix, but have u ever heard phoenix referred to as "a pack of wild dogs" as Dallas referred to us last year?

Or perhaps another running team, such as denver, we are similar too. Remember the quote from AI? (paraphrasing here)"We like to run, but they just dont stop. Its on another level" or some sort.

Point is, Nelson IS the system. Sure, we could probably run without him, but not as well. You think Smart will hold the respect of the players like Nellie? No way. Nelson is one of the reasons we have such good chemistry.

What if I proposed this:

Coach X is a three time coach of the year, a future hall of famer, 2nd most all time win list.

Coach Y has little head coaching experience, and never had a winning record.

Were going to replace coach X with Y and see improvement?

and pls, Avery Johnson is not a valid comparison to smart. if you would like to discuss that, im game as well

by jrizzle on Feb 22, 2008 2:06 PM PST up 0 recs

i totally agree

nellie is the system. My hope and plan would be to hope nellie sticks around for a year. then at the end of next year, foyle comes off the books, we let baron walk and sign and trade al. We rebuild around ellis and andris and bwright. we would have enough money to go sign calderon and maybe a banger lke tyrus thomas. lets enjoy the nellie show part 2 while it last but when he is gone, he is gone, lets not have a weak impersonation when he is gone

Alot of people say bad things about Stephen Jackson, but don't give him credit for being a good basketball player.

by norcalsoldier on Feb 22, 2008 2:15 PM PST up 0 recs

i agree too

once nellie goes and baron slows even a little the windo is essentially closed. baron's new contract probably wont allow us to put another star around monta and biedrins. monta, beans and wright should be a nice core but hey arent going to keep up with portland, utah, new orleans, or LA. especially not without nellie. and we cant trade obryant or pietrus for someone who will stay, they are both free agents at the end of the year. i like smart, but he wont approach nelson's ability to make other teams scramble to try to match up with us. as for brent barry i like the idea. why not give nellie another vet he can hand some minutes to?

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

by sam23 on Feb 22, 2008 3:11 PM PST up 0 recs

disagree

first off, it was game 4 of the jazz series.

As far as not making a trade...i am not as disappointed as you are...it would be very hard to make a good trade that would not negatively(possibly) affect our chemistry(super impt) and our financial situation. Dont forget, our team is hella young, and could be pretty good for a while, so i think we could afford to stand pat. The point i do agree with is nellie, a hall of fame coach, we only got him for this year and maybe next so the pressure was on.

i just dont feel the right deal was there

by jrizzle on Feb 22, 2008 2:00 PM PST 0 recs

Game 4

My bad about that. Haha, I've just tried so hard to block out that entire series from memory. If the Rockets only won that game 7 in the first round like they were supposed to...

by Atma Brother ONE on Feb 22, 2008 2:43 PM PST up 0 recs

i know

i still have visions of baron and jrich running circles around yao in a sweep. ....then eeking out four wins against the suns (who similarly shouldve beaten the spurs) and then we're playing for the championship. damn you rockets.

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

by sam23 on Feb 22, 2008 3:13 PM PST up 0 recs

It comforts me...

...that so many GSOMers are so certain that BWright (and to a degree AB) are going to be this bright and wonderful future of Warriors basketball. I mean, he was a Top 10 draft pick and has really long arms! What more proof would one need...

by Hoof on Feb 22, 2008 2:37 PM PST 0 recs

Seriously

How can we hang our hopes on a player that has proven NOTHING? He doesn't have one double digit rebounds or points game yet this year. I know he doesn't play, and it drives me crazy too, but there must be a reason he's not playing. A trade involving any of our young bench pieces would have been wise given our opportunity to make a run this year. When are we going to be 5 games back from the conference lead again in the next 3 years? I would hope soon, but we are in such a prime spot right now to make a run!! But I'm over it now.

Any addition now would be pretty inconsequential. Brent Berry? Please. I'd rather spread more minutes around to Azubuike by giving Ellis a couple more minutes at point to rest Baron. At the end of the year we should let all of our free agents walk except for Ellis and Biedrins. BD should pick up his option and we should go get Brand. We'll be over the cap and to keep the group together for more than a year a couple of the four will have to take a bit less than they could potentially get from a desperate non-contender. But this seems to be what it takes to put a title team together. Those four players with Jackson would make us potentially favorites in the West, especially with the Suns and Spurs becoming less of a factor. It would be the Warriors, Lakers, Jazz, and Blazers battling it out for the next two or three years.

Duke grad student missing the Bay but holding it down for the Dubs from afar.

by eastbayglory on Feb 22, 2008 3:02 PM PST up 0 recs

I...

...believe he's going to work out because I've liked everything he's done whenever he's been on the court. You seem to be arguing that unknown=bust. I'm arguing that a very limited sampling is encouraging to me.

A lot more encouraging than a guy like Ron Artest who would not have made us significantly better now and wouldn't lessened our odds of resigning Biedrins and Monta. Is nobody else worried about losing them? I relize that for whatever reason Atma doesn't seem to like Biedrins (or, perhaps that's unfair, rather he doesn't think he's worth the money or has enough natural talent), but my eyes and mind so consistantly say otherwise, and SURELY nobody after that last stretch of time wants to be rid of Monta. Certainly not for a loon like Artest or a wash-up like Jermaine O'Neal.

by Zack Vank on Feb 22, 2008 3:29 PM PST up 0 recs

Yeah...

because they'll both become busts. We all know it...

by R I O T on Feb 22, 2008 3:00 PM PST 0 recs

As far as Rick Barry goes

I think he is shown no respect from the Warriors because he doesnt respect people. He is just not a nice person. I know of a bunch of people who had the opportunity to meet him in person, and they all told me he was just a really rude person who thinks that he is the greatest thing on the earth. (Although he is pretty great as far as basketball goes, its not that hard to be nice once in a while, or smile)

Maybe that is why

My pictures never show up here, so this is my new Signature

by sloth11 on Feb 22, 2008 3:00 PM PST 0 recs

exactly

hell of a ballplayer, but a pompous asshole off the court. just listen to how the knbr guys talk about him...always with a little snicker and a tone of relief that he doesnt work there anymore.

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

by sam23 on Feb 22, 2008 3:16 PM PST up 0 recs

i met him

at a dubs game one year and he was nice enough to sign an autograph for me. so who knows

by AJC3317 on Feb 22, 2008 3:58 PM PST up 0 recs

And that's why he was so good as a player

It seems to me that the franchise should respect its players for their accomplishments, not their personalities. That's fine that they don't give him the Joe Montana treatment, but the man did bring us our only NBA trophy.

by chacabuco on Feb 22, 2008 3:40 PM PST 0 recs

why the hell would we need brent barry

we got a younger, in shape player that can shoot 3s and grab rebounds and get blocks and is barely getting a paid and his comin off the bench. KAZ

by gswLLBatman on Feb 22, 2008 5:22 PM PST 0 recs

Because

one of the things that the Warriors lack is a consistent, not a streaky, three point shooter. At the beginning of the year I thought Belinelli could be the guy, but he's clearly not ready yet. Barry shoots 43% from three, I know Al is a good 3 point shooter, but what's wrong with having another one? One who shoots a better percentage at that? One who will make the shots if he is left open?

Besides, for free agents, you don't have to lose a big time player to get him. I would do Barry for Kosta in a second.

But I'm pretty sure it's all speculation, I think Barry has an unspoken agreement to go back to the Spurs.

by belilaugh on Feb 22, 2008 8:15 PM PST up 0 recs

Plus,

while Azubuike is my boy, Nelson's not going to play him as much as he did in the very beginning of the year. I'm pretty sure Nelson would play Barry, he's a veteran.

by belilaugh on Feb 22, 2008 8:17 PM PST up 0 recs