What a day! What a day!
If you haven't been around a computer, television, radio, or friends in the last 24 hours, here's a quick recap. At #7 in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Warriors drafted Davidson guard, Stephen Curry, son of Dell Curry. They had no 2nd round pick. Also, the Dubs are heavily rumored to be involved in a trade of Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright, and Marco Belinelli for Amare Stoudemire. Some rumors have Kelenna Azubuike and Stephen Curry included.
Even if you don't agree with the moves, you at least had a little fun watching, waiting, anticipating the what the Warriors would do.
GSOM was going crazy yesterday, I don't know when the last time we had that many comments in a single day. We had a lot of comments on the OPEN THREAD: Pre-NBA Draft, every pick prior to #7, #1 Blake Griffin, #2 Hasheem Thabeet, #3 James Harden, #4 Tyreke Evans, #5 Ricky Rubio, and #6 Jonny Flynn, the Warriors own pick, the 7th pick Stephen Curry, the rest of the first round, and a recap of the Warriors day plus 2nd round coverage. Whew!
There were a few thoughts and hopes swirling in the back of my mind as the day went on. Hit the jump for some thoughts or check out what others are writing across the WWW.
1) Stephen Curry
I had gone back and forth on my desire to draft Brandon Jennings or Stephen Curry. In yesterday's poll, Who do you want the Warriors to draft in the 2009 NBA draft?, I chose Jennings. I had buyer's remorse as I lay my head to pillow last night. I wanted Curry instead. I even went so far as trying to figure out how I could change my vote since I figured an admin could do it, no luck. I didn't want Jordan Hill either, I just don't think he's going to be that great - 2nd best PF in the draft but it's a weak PF class, strong G class. Jennings is too raw. How many more projects do we need? A PG who might be good in 3 years? Naw, give me the guy who's proven he can deliver on college's biggest stage, the NCAA tournament. One of the better passers amongst all guards in the draft. Best shooter in the draft. Knows how to run a team as he did at Davidson.
So as Minnesota took Jonny Flynn with the 6th pick, there was Curry sitting in the green room and me hoping the Warriors would take him. We got the guy I wanted. Feels good since that hasn't happened in a long time. It was even more satisfying that we screwed over the Knicks. The boos from the Knick fans made the pick that much more sweet.
Will he be Rookie of the Year as Dick Vitale suggests? I don't think so. Either Dicky V was factoring in the curse of the Clippers for Blake Griffin or he's out of his mind by picking anyone over BG.
I guess the question is, will Curry remain a Warrior?
2) Amar'e Stoudemire aka STAT
One of the things I'll remember about the CME, Chris Mullin Era, is that the Warriors were always linked to big names in trades or free agency, Baron Davis, Kevin Garnett, Elton Brand, Gilbert Arenas. The NBA is entertainment and I was entertained. Apparently, Larry Riley will continue this tradition and try to make a big splash early on in his tenure. The Amar'e trade talks aren't dying down.
Amar'e Stoudemire
for
Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright, Marco Belinelli and might include Kelenna Azubuike and Stephen Curry.
I still don't know how I feel about this trade especially including Kelenna and Curry since it affects the depth of the bench. If it's just the first 3 guys, I think I do it. This league is made up of stars. None of the Warrior guys is or will ever be a star. Amar'e has superstar potential and even showed it 2 years ago when he averaged 25-9 along with 59% from the field and 80% from the line in 34 minutes per game. He was considered a top 10 player. The Inspired and injury free Amar'e I'll take any day over Biedrins and some role players. Which Amar'e will show up makes this a risk. Sometimes you have to take some calculated risks. Marco is addition by subtraction, he gets way too much love for having done nothing. Brandan showed some flashes last year, but has been injured and Randolph will eat up the majority of his minutes anyways. Andris is clearly the centerpiece in this deal, you have to give up something to get something.
If Amar'e ends up joining the team, he's already got his nicknamed tattooed on his arm, Standing Tall and Talented. Check the bullet points at the bottom of his NBA profile.
Put it this way, the Warriors aren't trading for Amar'e of last year, they're trading for the chance that Amar'e will return to the top 10 player he was 2 years ago. They're trading with the hope they can keep him long term as he'll turn 27 this year, right in his prime. They're trading for him because he's a game changer. And for that, I think it's worth it since he's not that far off. Some extra motivation and change of scenery might push him back to his elite level, just as it did for Baron a few years ago.
3) Ricky "Harry Potter" Rubio
After Blake Griffin, Pretty Ricky was the guy I was hoping the Warriors would pick up. I think he's got the qualities to be a special player. So, as Ricky Rubio dropped (inexplicably) past the Thunder at #3 (James Harden instead), I was surprised. What's wrong with pairing Westbrook and Rubio? I don't mind having 2 guys who can distribute to Durant! Anyways, I was thinking that there's no way he drops past the Kings. After all, the Kings need a point guard. Nope, I guess they wanted a guy people think will play the point, but probably can't, Mr. Tyreke Evans. I like his game, though he'll never be a top notch point. So I'm just a little excited. Perhaps Rubio would fall to the Warriors as Crabtree fell to the Niners. The problem was Minnesota needs guards so they were most likely going to take 2 guards at 5 and 6. In the back of my mind I was thinking they could take Stephen Curry and then, only if they had kept Kevin McHale, they might take Flynn or a big like Hill. Denied. Rubio went 5th and Flynn went 6th. Oh well, that was fun while it lasted.