The Warriors have reportedly just signed NBDL product Kelenna Azubuike to a 2 year deal [see Contra Costa Times]. For the 2006-2007 season Azubuike will collect $687,456. Azubuike has a player option for the second year at $797,581.
I have to say I'm really feeling this move by the Warriors. Whenever Kelenna had to fill in for an injured Warrior player (and believe me there were many this past season) he was spectacularily solid (if that makes any sense at all). His tough all around game was highlighted by several scoring outburts. This past January against the Paper Clips right after the robbery of the Indy Pacers Kelenna dropped 28 points. He also scored 23 points twice in the month of February against the Nuggets and Bulls.
With respect to dollars Kelenna's deal makes tons of cents and sense. It's the free agent bargain of the offseason so far! The Warriors are getting Kabuki's services for about 1/15 of the price of the Orlando Tragic's absurd new max contract player Rashard Lewis. (haha, it makes the Allan Houston 100+ million dollar contract look like a bargain.)
Kelenna just fits in with the culture here.
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Kelenna was a great in-season DLeague find by Chris Mullin, particularly after selecting what looks to be Project O'Bust in the sorry 2006 NBA Draft class. That class was so weak that Mullie essentially plucked a 2006 lottery pick in Azubuike from the NBDL at a fraction of the cost. Unlike Patrick O'Bryant Kelenna's been balling up the summer league too.
Kelenna's made the most of his summer.
(Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
You feeling the Kelenna deal?