<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">THE GOLDEN STATE Warriors have been quiet this off-season, but that doesn't mean the wheels have stopped spinning at team headquarters in Oakland. A critical decision has yet to be made: Who would Chris Mullin rather have long-term, Mike Dunleavy or Mickael Pietrus? Make no mistake about it: There soon won't be room in the team's salary structure for both. Dunleavy is signed through the 2005-06 season, but he's eligible this summer for the type of contract extension Jason Richardson and Troy Murphy forced upon the Warriors last off-season. Mullin doesn't have to do anything. He could let Dunleavy play out his contract, then deal with him as a restricted free agent a year from now, knowing the Warriors would retain the right to match any offer. But that would be risky, especially if Mullin has long-range plans for the No.3 pick of the 2002 draft. I mean, if you truly believe Dunleavy is on the verge of big things, then why not lock him up through the end of the decade at a reasonable price? If Dunleavy were signed today to, say, a five-year, $45 million extension, that would commit close to $55 million to Baron Davis, Richardson, Dunleavy, Murphy, Adonal Foyle and Derek Fisher for the 2006-07 season. And upward of $60 million the following season. In other words, when Pietrus comes up for extension next summer, Mullin would have to go seriously over the luxury-tax threshold in order to give the Frenchman his due. And that's not likely. So, who is it: Dunleavy or Pietrus? It's a tough decision. No wonder it's so quiet in Oakland. </div> Source
I think they need Pietrus more. He has the ability to someday be a Bruce Bowen type shutdown defender. Dunleavy is talented, but Pietrus' defense is more valuable IMO.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">I think they need Pietrus more. He has the ability to someday be a Bruce Bowen type shutdown defender. Dunleavy is talented, but Pietrus' defense is more valuable IMO.</div> Agreed, he has great defensive potential while also having a pretty good offensive game.
I'd stick with Pietrus if I were Mullin, even though the ball movement is more fluid with Dunleavy on the wing. I just see Pietrus as more of a visible difference maker as an on the ball defender and a guy who can penetrate and score off the dribble when all else fails. Maybe it's because some teams haven't figured out Pietrus's somewhat predictable moves yet, but Pietrus seems to me like some very raw star-type talent that can lock down a star player on defense where Richardson can't. In addition, he can bring in some scoring punch from the foul line or beyond the arc. Plus, Barnett would suddenly become a less annoying commentator with Dunleavy moving on, I think. I dunno it's hard to say, I like Dunleavy where he is in setting up other scorers, but if Pietrus wants to start I'd rather go with Pietrus. I just hope we don't dump Dunleavy and then find out later we can't even match Pietrus' contract offer from some team desperate for FA's and Pietrus ends up wanting to go so he can be the team's star. No, I definitely like Dunleavy where he is, I just hope he doesn't get paid some huge qualifying offer. The guy plays too much like a role player and not the Shane Battier defensive kind. Hopefully Dun can learn a few things this offseason on posting other forwards up and playing tougher defense (At least he's closed down the flop shop and stayed on his feet more). I believe Dunleavy when he says he can play defense, it's just a matter of developing the body for it and staying on his feet. Who knows maybe with more time in the weight room bulking up his legs he can be a good of a defender as Matt Harpring or Eric Williams despite not being nearly as athletic.
I dont know why people are worrying about this, this year! Lets cross that bridge when it comes. Let both of them battle it out for the starting job and whoever wins this year wins. If Pietrus explodes and does that well, we might be able to trade Richardson and Foyle/Fisher for someone decent in return
But we love Richardson, don't we? Unless it gets the T-wolves or the Pacers to cough up a franchise player, I say we hang on to Jrich.
I also wonder if this is a fact: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> DATELINE: On the bench. Without question, the Warriors get more calls regarding the availability of Pietrus than any other player. There are many reasons for this: -The 23-year-old is seen as being exceptionally talented and ready to take the league by storm. -He'll never be a starter for the Warriors as long as Richardson and Dunleavy are employed. -Golden State has a history of letting good, young talent (remember Gilbert Arenas?) slip away. If Mullin were to extend Dunleavy sooner rather than later, he could then take advantage of the interest in Pietrus to reshape the Warriors' roster now while the team still has some wiggle room under the luxury tax. </div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">But we love Richardson, don't we? Unless it gets the T-wolves or the Pacers to cough up a franchise player, I say we hang on to Jrich.</div> Oh yeah, no doubt Richardson is my favorite player and I am very loyal to him, but if Pietrus begins to average 20pts per game, and we decide to keep Dunleavy then I would chose Pietrus for a few reasons... 1. He plays great defense on elite perimeter players like Steve Francis and Kobe Bryant. 2. He is a slasher and gets to the bucket. Jrich is more of a fast break dunker and shooter. Pietrus also has the ability to hit the 3 but is more likely to drive to the hoop and draw fouls or dunk the ball. Jrich has never really developed that part of his game. 3. Baron has been quoted as saying his favorite player on the court is Pietrus and Jrich off the court...
Baron probably loves Pietrus because he's the same type of energetic open court style of player that's willing to get dirty on both ends of the floor. I love Pietrus' defense on big combo guards like Gilbert Arenas, Steve Francis and Stephon Marbury. He also does well with taking on Kobe or Michael Redd. A good lockdown defender prospect. Speaking of lockdown defenders, I kind of wish we had a Speedy Claxton type player to take care of guys like Tony Parker, TJ Ford, Chris Paul, Allen Iverson and Sebastian Telfair though. Nobody on the W's can guard them, but Speedy could contain them. I remember he did a fantastic job on A.I. several times.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Warriorfansnc93:</div><div class="quote_post">Pietrus can guard all of those guys...</div> I think Parker and A.I. and all those other guys are too fast for Pietrus.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">I think Parker and A.I. and all those other guys are too fast for Pietrus.</div> Well, I think he can guard those guys. Pietrus is intense man. When he is focused there is almost nobody he cant guard. Its when he gets a big head and slacks off that he gets burned...
Pietrus is our most explosive player coming off the bench. He is one of the best sixth men in the league. We don't have anyone else to provide a spark both defnesively and offensively. If Pietrus starts then who comes off the bench? I like Pietrus as our sixth man for all the energy he brings and headaches he creates for opposing teams. I'd hate to see that change this year. I think by midseason with Barky, Pietrus and Monta on the second unit we'll be devasting for other tems to handle. bring on the season!
Pietrus without question needs to be the first guy off the bench for the guards. Depending on the lineup we may even bring him in for a PF and have Dun slide over at the PF spot while Pietrus plays SF. Monty needs to get this guy 25 mpg minimum to really assess him. If he consistently plays better than Dunleavy by the All Star break, then we need to either trade Dun or move him to the bench...
after the 4/18/05 game when Pietrus out scores,outplays Kobe,head to head,the W's and many others had to really take note. MP had a batch of games leading to that where he would blur past a guy and fly for a slam,or cool as ice stroke a couple of 3's,then make a stopper play on D. MP does not quite match the speed of Iverson and Tony Parker,but almost nobody does. When MP is at SF,he hardly ever has anyone match his speed/quickness. I do NOT see Dunleavy getting $6mill a year,surely not $8-9 mill. Where are the teams who really want him that much? When I see trade threads with Mike D nobody seems to be putting anything interesting on the table-so I doubt there's a bidding war if he goes restricted FA. If Pietrus beats him out at SF soon-and that's likely,Dunleavy becomes a 6th man,a real natural role since he has played 4 positions. He can be a real keeper in such a role-but a sixth man is not gonna get a break the budget contract. the Warriors have had a few decades of floundering. Lets say they have a run of several years being real contenders...but do have to pay some Lux tax a couple years down the road? SO WHAT! Rich dudes buy teams to WIN at some point,sure the profits matter,but if you don't ever win,you should invest in real estate instead We got a nice preview of " Coming Attractions" late last season. If the W's roll along at a 60% clip this WHOLE year...or even improve on that everbodies market value shoots up. Everybody is calling Mully. Someone will give a good offer for FISH! Everyone will live Happy ever after
Thats a good wish REREM, you really like those smileys huh. But I could see Fish getting an offer in a trade maybe to a tean like LA or Portland that needs a familiar player (LA) or a player to lead them and be a good boy (portland)
Good take REM on Piety observations and the fun filled animated gif icons. But what happens if Dunleavy does get 8 or 9 mil a year out of favoritism from Mully? I'm going to go back and totally quote what you just said about "not seeing Dunleavy getting 8-9 mil a year". If only we had some way to scry in our little crystal ball to find out the fate of Dunleavy or Pietrus. Pietrus has a buttload of raw talent, high intensity, guts and athleticism which drives up the price to retain him at shooting guard or undersized small forward. Dunleavy has the size, talent and bball I.Q. to be a good role player at 4 positions, and a good option that can feed off of Baron and feed other players in return (once the opposing defenses are shifted around and there's proper floor spacing to initiate a move or cycle the ball to the open side of the floor). Both are good players with Piety obviously being the more favored because he's high value, he's an aggressive offensive/defensive talent type of prospect and he's got speed, length as his biggest mismatch against players. Dunleavy has like what? Size and length? Doesn't really use it in the post and doesn't use the quick long steps as effectively as Zarko. BBall I.Q.? Overrated when ball movement and passing doesn't seem like a huge deal with Baron and Jrich in the lineup and our defense being subpar at several positions. I hope we keep both, but our 4 and our 5 stink in terms with what we want them to do. Hopefully, Taft, Biedrins, Diogu, Zarko can address these problems and offer a higher ceiling than our 5 or 4 spot. Last words and random thought: Maybe one of the benefits Mullin sees in keeping Dunleavy locked up is maybe he'll be a good Warriors GM or coach someday after retirement to bail out the Warriors when they start blowing again. It did take a former Warriors player to bail out the Warriors and give them a chance to make the playoffs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Warriorfansnc93:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, I think he can guard those guys. Pietrus is intense man. When he is focused there is almost nobody he cant guard. Its when he gets a big head and slacks off that he gets burned...</div> Honestly, I think Pietrus will get smoked by A.I. and Telfair. Speedy will probably destroy him as well. I hope we don't trade away Pietrus; with his defensive intensity and aggressively scoring mentality, he could help the W's alot if they ever make it into the playoffs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting openglfx:</div><div class="quote_post">Honestly, I think Pietrus will get smoked by A.I. and Telfair. Speedy will probably destroy him as well. I hope we don't trade away Pietrus; with his defensive intensity and aggressively scoring mentality, he could help the W's alot if they ever make it into the playoffs.</div> I have to agree with you, openglfx. Pietrus has the lateral speed and the steps for a true 6'6" dude, but the short or lightweight guys can change direction a lot quicker and just burn everyone taller or heavier. The 6'3, 200 something lb. guards like Stevie Francis, Baron Davis and Stephon Marbury are something Pietrus can handle, but the lighter or shorter guys just peel him off like an old scab. Last year he was strictly used by Emuss to shutdown big scoring point guards while Dunleavy played the point on offense and he shined because he was a 210-215 lb guy matching up with other 6'2-6'4/195-210 lb guards using his lateral quickness and wiery length of his. This year we tried to use him against Tony Parker a couple of occasions and Sebastian Telfair. It didn't work that well and he ended up picking up fouls. Those guys and the shortest MVP in the nba, A.I., are practically unguardable unless there's another similar short, lightweight lightning quick defender that can react and is quick enough to stay in front of them. It's all about the body type matchups if we're already considering the solid defensive footwork and technique.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post"> It's all about the body type matchups if we're already considering the solid defensive footwork and technique.</div> I agree with this theory. For example if you get an "unguardable" player such as A.I. or Dirk Nowitzki guys who have a similar build and similar athletic ability, (speed, jumping, acceleration, height)such as Speedy Claxton or Ryan Bowen will probably be able to get in A.I./Dirk's face more because they can stay with them. Back on topic, I pretty much agree with everyone that if Mullin resigns Dun before the season begins it could be a huge mistake because it may not allow us to resign Pietrus if he continues to blow up. For some reason it is dificult for me to see Mully/Monty allowing Pietrus to start, even if he out performs Dunleavy. I hope I'm wrong and I hope they will fairly evaluate the players.
