http://www.insidebayarea.com/sports/ci_16765315 I totally agree, as injured as they have been at the bigs (Udoh, Wright, Lee, Amundson) at least there we have had players who can try to make a play (Adrien, Gadz, Radmonovic). But at the guard spot, we really have ONE player from the bench. That's Reggie Williams. As much as I like Lin's story (and future), right now he does not deserve to be on the floor unless it's garbage time. And Charlie Bell does not deserve to be on the floor... Ever. The Warriors basically have 1 guard on the bench, Williams, and he doesn't even play point well. The need for a quality guard off the bench right now is glaring. With Lin getting torched on the high screen, and Charlie Bell shooting air balls from the corner, you'd think a D-League option would be worth a shot right now. Oh how nice it would be to have Bellinelli right now. Or even CJ Watson, as much as I hate to say it. Just a guard. Any guard who can handle themselves. Because Bell and Lin are not options for a winning team right now. And Reggie should be playing the 2 or 3. Monta and Steph are playing too many minutes. At least we have big men who are coming back eventually. There are no quality guards coming back from injury soon. No all-star guard playing his way back into shape (like Lee is). No 1st round draft pick guard (like Udoh) set to make his debut soon. Because there were never any on the roster to begin with. It's the Monta/Curry show, with one bench scorer in Reggie Williams. That's it.
Yeah, can't remember which of our beat writers said it but I agree with the statement that once Lou/Ekpe come back we'll really start to see how horrid our back court depth is. So far we've been bitching and moaning because Lee was injured and Vlad is getting burn and what not but at least we had Gadz and Adrien doing decently. We're not getting much out of any of our perimeter bench reserves save for the occasional good game from Carney and Reggie is pretty hit and miss. To be honest I think Adrien will get cut once Lou and Amundson are back in the swing of things. Vlad and Gadz aren't going anywhere and Lee, Beans, Lou, Udoh, Gadz is more than enough bodies to get a respectable PF/C rotation. I guess you can pencil Vlad back in as a reserve SF but would he be any better than Carney/Reggie? At anything at all? I don't really see it. I like Lin, if we develop him right I think he can become a very nice reserve but hes just not ready to play if we're trying to win. Can't run the team well, can't shoot, makes lots of mistakes. He oughta stick around because I like his potential to become a contributor more than Adrien. Once Adrien gets cut I think we start bringing D-League guards up on 10 day contracts.
I didn't see the PHX game, but that loss tore my heart out. We need to beat PHX to make it to the playoffs. If we don't... Well, I don't want to think about that. A good backup PG is not easy to find. Larry Riley made a mistake in trading our second round draft pick for cash although a case could be made for Cohan's cheapness. We could've got Armon Johnson. [video=youtube;37MLL70Cd5A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37MLL70Cd5A[/video]
I think Brandan Wright is cut before Adrien. The Warriors need Don Nelson as a consultant for who to add to the team. He's great at finding players out of nowhere.
I'd cut Vlad before either of them but once you cut a guy you can't trade his contract right? BW and Vlad are expirings so we need to keep them on the roster to reap the rewards.
Ok, let's trade Vlad and BW for a backup PG? Not sure what you'd be able to get for those two players though.
Actually, in about 2 months (around the Feb 15th trade deadline), Vald's contract is going to become a valuable chip. That's $7 mils expiring. pretty much every team in the league would want to have that. As well as Gadz, which is also $7 mils. Those are two big pieces right now, despite their limited production. That's $14 mils off the books. Warriors could use each one in a separate deal with teams that need to get under the cap in order to sign back their own players. Or the Warriors could let it drop off the books, in order to be able to offer Curry a big contract, etc. I think the Warriors could trade those chips for long-term players and still be able to structure something long-term for Curry, but of course Curry is 1st priority.] Maybe trade one and let the other one drop off? Keep the one who may be helping a little, and trade the other one. Doing BWright+Vlad is actually a pretty enticing package if Wright can come back and play a few games.
The Grizzlies just cut Acie Law. I expect him to be in a GS uniform within 24 hours. I really liked how he played in his brief stint here.
I want to say that I read somewhere that Smart was a big fan of Law? Maybe it was Nellie who thought that though. I dunno, can't remember what it was from or if I'm remembering right. And I wouldn't trade the expirings for role players. Lets go all in for another core player. Once we have a core of guys that we think we can compete for championships with then fill the rest in. Don't give up resources and flexibility to get locked up with players who will make us marginally better but won't take us to a high level. We could really use a PG but even if we had one we're still a first round playoff exit team at best.
We could really shore up the backcourt if we traded our expirings for Kirk Hinrich or Jason Kidd (salaries match-up, etc.), but both those guys play integral parts on their teams. I think we'd have a better chance at getting Hinrich between the two.
I wouldn't trade the expirings and tie up more salary for a backup point guard, IMO. I don't think that this season is about making the playoffs. We can sign a solid backup in the off-season when the salary frees up.
This. Do whatever you can to get another stud player who can take us places. Who cares if we blow this season- trading for a backup PG still makes us mediocre in the long run plus we do own our pick this year. Hold out for a great player and once you've got the core in place you can go out and get role players and lock yourself into contracts with role players types. Don't limit your flexibility on non-difference makers and prevent yourself from making a big move.
On a side note, don't forget we're still on the hook for the FIRST ROUND (ugh) draft pick from the Marcus Williams trade, due in 2012. It goes like this: So, if we land the # 8 pick or higher in 2012, we hand it over to the Nets. If we are lucky enough to get 1-7, then we put it off for a year, and in 2013 play the same game again. If we keep sucking enough, and keep getting a high lotto pick, then by 2014 it will turn into two 2nd round picks, unprotected. Chances are, one of those years, we won't be top 7, and we'll have to give the 1st rounder to the Nets. BTW what's Marcus Williams been up to lately lol? We sure could use him right now.
Yeah thats why I don't think its such a bad thing to suck this season. If we play our cards right we can be much improved next season plus have that lotto pick on the roster (or use it in a trade for a good player). I think if we do manage it right we can be a good club in 2012 and we'll only lose the mid-first rounder which is bearable.
No Marcus Williams. How about Kyle Weaver (formerly of OKC Thunder)? Weaver making a name for himself in D-League by Sam Smith Posted on Dec 6 Somebody is going to get a chance to pick up a pretty good shooting guard from the NBA’s D-League soon, a guy named Kyle Weaver of the first place Iowa Energy who is just tearing it up. Weaver is averaging 19 points for the season, but over the last three, 24.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists. For the season, he is shooting 51.6 percent from the field, 48.3 percent on threes and 87 percent on free throws while being the perimeter defensive stopper for the 7-1 team that is the minor league affiliate for the Bulls and Suns. You might remember Weaver as the Bulls’ training camp invitee who was the final cut, and while the 6-6 guard concedes some disappointment about not being able to stick with the Bulls, he says it’s been that ol’ blessing in disguise as the Timberwolves, Kings, Clippers and Warriors have been sniffing around, as well as several European teams. “Coming here from the league (Oklahoma City the last two seasons), I wanted to be a leader and win,” Weaver said by phone from Des Moines just before Iowa beat the Dakota Wizards. “I wanted to make a statement to myself and the other guys that I came from the league, but I’m here to play and win and help guys, be a leader, watch tape, work with the coaches, be a complete player.” Weaver has done all of that with some brilliant efforts of late, 32 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks last Wednesday, then 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists Friday before 12 points and five assists in Sunday’s win, but a huge plus-24 in the plus/minus stats, by far the largest on his team in Sunday’s win. “I’m shooting the ball better. But there’s nothing like playing, in whatever league you’re in. To be able to play and win big and make plays, getting the opportunity. It’s a beautiful thing.” It was a rough few days for Weaver, obviously, after being released by the Bulls—the first time, he said, he’s ever been cut in a tryout—before deciding to go to Iowa. He could have gone straight to Europe, and still could. It’s an intriguing situation for some D-League players now as with the likely potential for a lockout, NBA players with contracts would be barred from playing in Europe. But guys in the D-League who opt for Europe could have jobs all through next season if the lockout proceeds and is stalemated. It’s a choice that makes some stop and think if they want to even go back to the NBA for a short time. But Weaver still does. He believes he’s an NBA player, though as he will be 25 next February, he has to make some decisions. But for now, he’s ballin’, as they say. Sure, it’s nothing like sauntering onto the charter plane with the full course meals. They ride buses and in preseason had a bus ride to Dallas. No Ritz there, either. “I figured coming here would be the best option for keeping my name out there,” said Weaver. “But knowing I’d get a chance to play was the biggest thing. It was a weird feeling (with the Bulls). All the coaches kept telling me I was doing great. There was so much positive feedback and I felt like I got better the longer I was there, so it stung a little bit. But at the end of the day it’s a business. “When you’re competitive and want something bad and don’t get it, you learn,” says Weaver. “But, in a way, I’m kind of glad it happened. Now I understand better the process and it’s something I can use. It’s humbling to come here. We don’t have the resources the NBA teams have, but you really appreciate it if you do get it back. The last game we bused to South Dakota, four, five hours. After the game, we were home maybe 3:30, then did appearances, out signing autographs and then playing again. But this is a good bunch of guys, (some) guys who have also been in the NBA (Othyus Jeffers, Gani Lawal, Courtney Sims), guys who can be. I’m taking this thing seriously. I’m watching a lot of film, going to coach about schemes, details, little things. It’s easy to say you’ve been in the league and you come here and relax and just play. “But I want to push myself,” says Weaver. “This matters. This is serious. I feel that approach is paying off. I feel like on the court I’m already having some control, telling guys where to be, calling out plays. I’m trying to score, rebound, but not force things, mostly try to win games. It’s a good feeling. Guys are responding. I enjoy playing the game again, being out there making plays. Even making mistakes (averaging 3.5 turnovers). You have a chance to get past it and build your confidence and learn. “In the league when you are coming off the bench,” says Weaver, “that mistake is magnified 10 times. You come in cold, but you better be ready to play. The staff here is great and putting us all in position to improve and do better. It’s fun again. And we’re winning. And you know when you’re winning, the food tastes better, the girls look prettier. “Though,” Weaver said with a laugh, “the bus rides still feel long.”
Acie Law's supposed to sign today. Reggie should get big minutes and Law should get some run after that. The Warriors and I have been shook up since they lost to PHX. Getting Amundson back and Law should help. We'll just have to hang in there.
Looks like Adrien was the casualty...I wish him the best of luck. I imagine he'll land somewhere: I Like Weaver too. I guess we'd have to dump Lin to get him. Probably not the worst thing since we just signed Law.
Udoh's supposed to play next game, too, from what I hear. But Law will be a nice backup -- for the Warriors. On most teams he'd be an afterthought, but considering we only have 1 point guard -- Steph Curry -- this team could use anybody right now. Law will be a big relief off the bench, even though he won't contribute much, just having him being able to bring it up court and not commit a brain-fart turnover like many of our other players do.
