<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Don Nelson had his guard up early and did his able best to avoid the solo columnist-zone trap. ``How would I know that?'' the Warrior coach said with a wily grin Tuesday when I asked if his team would rise above .500 at season's end. ``That's a set-up question. No, I have no idea.'' No idea, Don? This team is 18-18, almost halfway through the season, and giving off radiant warning signs. It's too dependent on Baron Davis (who has been spectacular), lousy as always on defense, has zero post presence on offense, and is getting little production from the overpaid pet players of the Chris Mullin era. It's better coached than last year, younger, but with the same glaring weaknesses that spelled 34-48. Don, you've won more than 1,200 NBA games. Gone to the playoffs 16 times. Can you just say what the Warriors, currently ninth in the West and riding a 12-season no-playoff run, have to do to move up in the standings? ``Play better basketball,'' Nelson said, almost giggling at his sly blandness. ``I don't want to give you fuel for whatever it is you're thinking about writing.'' Somehow Nelson knew what I was getting at. Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy and Ike Diogu were supposed to flourish in Nelson's wide-open system, and instead, they've been exposed even more. Exposed and benched for long periods -- frankly, Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus (and even Kelenna Azibuike) deserve to play ahead of them. That's good and bad news for the Warriors. Good, because Barnes and Pietrus have been Nellie revelations. Bad, because Barnes and Pietrus aren't a playoff-level forward tandem. Worse, because the long-term deals Mullin gave Dunleavy and Murphy are putting extreme pressures on the Warriors' future salary options. Even worse: Diogu was the ninth pick two years ago; add Patrick O'Bryant, who was taken ninth in June (pre-Nelson) and shipped to the NBDL recently because he doesn't fit Nelson's style. Right now, they're the worst back-to-back lottery tandem in the past decade for a team that needed immediate help. Much worse: The trade value for all four players is sinking, sinking.</div> Source
Here's my favorite part of the column: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Are you disappointed, Don? ``No, I didn't expect that we were going to be a good team,'' Nelson said. ``Not yet, anyway. I'm just trying to keep from being poor. Ordinary ain't bad.'' Nelson can't help but be honest. More than a thousand NBA victories give him the right and the credibility. On Murphy, who doesn't play much in the second half anymore: ``He just hasn't played very well,'' Nelson said. ``He's working hard. It's just defensively, he struggles a little bit.'' I'll add: The Warriors are 9-4 this season when Murphy doesn't play, 9-14 when he does. He also carries the Warriors' worst plus-minus number in not a lot of minutes. Whew, that $58 million deal sure looks wonderful, no? On Dunleavy's defense: ``He is what he is,'' Nelson said. ``Have you watched our games? What do you think?'' I think he's a bad defensive player, Don. ``I wouldn't say that Mike Dunleavy is a good defender,'' Nelson said. Yep, and that $44 million deal is beautiful. I like Dunleavy's smarts and versatility, but if he can't bloom in Nelson's open system, how valuable is he?</div>
So who is that hampers the Warriors? I dont think it is very easy to see just based off that article. Is it Murphy? Is it Dunleavy? Is it Nelson? Personally I think Nelson needs to start Diogu at the 4 and let Pietrus and Barnes play their more natural positions. If that means a fight between those 2 and Ellis for the remaining 2/3 spot, then let them have at it! I think this should be the starting lineup... Davis Ellis Pietrus Diogu Biedrens Then I dont know who should play PG (I guess McLeod), but AZ can play the 2 and score Barnes can be a scoring option at SF off the bench Foyle can play C and Murphy can play at the 4 and get those +/- numbers up...
Baron has zero post presence? This season the team has not been "too dependent" on Baron Davis. Right now, or at least recently they have been, because Monta Ellis has been injured and Jason Richardson has a broken hand. But also recently the Warriors have prospered greatly with great production from Matt Barnes. Baron Davis was injured when the Warriors pulled off very impressive victories against the Spurs and the Jazz. This doesn't negate what the author wrote if he meant it to be for the current state of the Warriors; though with Monta coming back this article seems to be a little late to be saying the team depends too much on Baron since it has been Monta who has helped tremendously vs. the Sonics and Suns (Nelson kept Ellis in when he had like 4 or 5 fouls in the first half). However with the players that are on the roster and active who is he suggesting the Warriors depend on more? Obviously it's not going to be Murphy or Dunleavy from the rest of what he writes about. Obviously he seems to be saying that the forward positions hamper the Warriors from making the playoffs. However he seems to avoid discussing how well Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus have done at those positions, how Dunleavy has done well in his current role, and how Ike and Murphy are just now getting into the system due to injuries (the winning percentage with vs without Murphy is interesting though). He whines how now these players - Murphy, Dunleavy, and Ike - have terrible trade value, but you can't whine both about not being in position to make the playoffs and for playing undeserving players to improve their trade value in the same article or in the same anything. It just makes him look like a whining, ignorant writer. That is unless he is just whining about previous management moves which is valid in a sence but really adds nothing for discussion. And yes, obviously making a trade for value by dealing Dunleavy, Murphy, and maybe even Ike would be ideal. However you can't really blame Mullin for not trying to deal Murphy since he tried to do so in the offseason for Al Harrington. Also Dunleavy's BYC doesn't help, which does not negate blame to Mullin but it does not do much to bring up the contract situations over and over again. This article says nothing besides the obvious contract/trade value situation. Seriously I am not sure what he is trying to do in the article. If he wants to say that Murphy is terrible then just say it and not bring up these irrelevant points about Nelson and Baron and the team in general. He just makes himself look like an idiot. Right now he is on record on saying that Ike and POB are busts and the team will not make the playoffs. We shall see what happens though.
Kawkami's talking about the team having zero post presence and relying on too much Baron Davis. Not Baron has zero post presence. Chris Mullin hampers the Warriors, I think. Maybe that's the article. I'll have to read it later becuase I'm kinda busy.
<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Chris Mullin hampers the Warriors, I think. Maybe that's the article. I'll have to read it later becuase I'm kinda busy.</div> The Mullin hate is out of hand, IMO. Obviously the contract signings were horrible but hes put together one of the most talented teams we've had in years. He drafted Biedrins, who could easily be an all-star in a few years and hes the only good big we've had in over a decade, he drafted Monta who also figures to be a stud and Ike who could be very solid if he could get minutes. He also pulled off the Baron trade, landing us our best player we've had since the last time we made the playoffs. He has made some big mistakes in the form of bad contract signings but hes also admitted his mistakes by trading off Fisher and firing Montgomery once it was clear that he was going no where, not to mention signing an established coach instead of another low budget rookie head coach. If over the next season or two he shows better judgment in signing players he'd be a very good GM, since thats been his only weakness thus far in his GMing career.
<div class="quote_poster">Run BJM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The Mullin hate is out of hand, IMO. Obviously the contract signings were horrible but hes put together one of the most talented teams we've had in years. </div> Debatable. It's not how you start, but hwo you finish. We haven't finished yet, but I've seen how we've finished every single year for the last few years. The same roster, but Nelson can't fix everything wrong with this franchise when he didn't have the last say in the years before when we got Baron Davis.. Also, it's yet to be seen what Mullin can do to keep the talented players under reasonably priced contracts so we can add more talent to this team later or make changes. Also, eating luxury tax is something that's an unknown, but most owners won't pay it. If Cohan won't pay it, it won't matter if he's constructed a decent team this year, he won't keep it. The point is, sometimes GMs don't get second chances once they've blown it early on. I mean you gamble badly early on, you can't get your money back unless you're going on a win streak. We could very well lose the house on the next hand. <div class="quote_poster">Run BJM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> He drafted Biedrins, who could easily be an all-star in a few years and hes the only good big we've had in over a decade, he drafted Monta who also figures to be a stud and Ike who could be very solid if he could get minutes. He also pulled off the Baron trade, landing us our best player we've had since the last time we made the playoffs. </div> Until, he's an all-star he's pretty much like our other guys. Yet to be seen. He's the only good big we've had in years because guys get kept blowing the draft when Twardzick or Pj was in power, or we've fallen short where all the good big guys get taken. Let's not forget Isiah Thomas was a good drafter (for the most part) but he hasn't done jack in terms of the rest of the Gm game. So besides Baron Davis trade, what else has he done to surround Baron Davis with better talent? He hasn't done jack. Only Nelson really did anything because he's more of a GM IMO than Mullin is and he's a decent one because he knows exactly what might work in his system given the constraints. The GM shouldn't pick players for the coach, the coach should pick players unless his name is PJ Carlisimo or the coach doesn't have any vision or judge of raw talent. <div class="quote_poster">Run BJM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> He has made some big mistakes in the form of bad contract signings but hes also admitted his mistakes by trading off Fisher and firing Montgomery once it was clear that he was going no where, not to mention signing an established coach instead of another low budget rookie head coach. If over the next season or two he shows better judgment in signing players he'd be a very good GM, since thats been his only weakness thus far in his GMing career.</div> Yeah, it didn't hurt that Nelson was also Mullin's friend. If Nelson wasn't available, I'm not sure which new coach would be brave or desperate enough to accept a job coaching his weird lineup. IF being the keyword, "he shows better judgement in signing players, he'd be a very good GM." Well that's like saying if Dunleavy could only shoot better and not suck at defense. Signing players and making good judgement calls is probably 80% to GMing! So it being his only weakness is a major one. If you look at all the small market teams and how they've been successful is 1.) you draft well 2.) you find a team that fits the budget 3.) you find an anchor to build a franchise around 4.) you have flexibility to make trades, offseason signings or whatnot and hopefully the chemistry and stabilty of the roster doesn't go kaput.
Oh and Mullin finding good draft picks... he probably owes at least half to his scouts. I'm more concerned about what Mullin and company are doing when they're planning our longterm future. Everything has a cause and effect relationship and sometimes the momentum gets killed faster than Fisher or Pietrus getting an offensive foul or chucking a shot with 20 seconds left on the shot clock. I think in the end, a good GM who knows the game in and out as a player, a coach, and has plenty of talented friends or workmates, will win the day. Strong ownership also helps. We tend to have questionable everything. I'm sorry. But I think history has shown that and the current state of the Warriors leaves little to believe we could be more optimistic. We're not exactly beating our old record in this point of time, injuries or not. Hell, I would love to be the Warriors owner right now. I could make money off a team I don't even have to try to make good because fans will still pay for it. Anyway sorry to be negative. I'd honestly have to say the one warrior that hampers things has been Dunleavy or.... Murphy. Those guys do the same thing on D with obvious differences. They get overpowered or outquicked or outhustled. We can't fly with that crap unless we have an offensive mismatch to look the other way on defense. Those guys don't do anything but shoot the ball and very streaky.
<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Debatable. It's not how you start, but hwo you finish. We haven't finished yet, but I've seen how we've finished every single year for the last few years. The same roster, but Nelson can't fix everything wrong with this franchise when he didn't have the last say in the years before when we got Baron Davis..</div> Agree, its yet to be seen how this team stacks up with other teams we've had in the past but when was the last time we had a PG who averaged 20/8? Or a C who dominated the boards and on defense (basically the piece we've been searching for since we last made the playoffs)? Plus we've got JR and Monta and a bunch of role players. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Also, it's yet to be seen what Mullin can do to keep the talented players under reasonably priced contracts so we can add more talent to this team later or make changes. Also, eating luxury tax is something that's an unknown, but most owners won't pay it. If Cohan won't pay it, it won't matter if he's constructed a decent team this year, he won't keep it. The point is, sometimes GMs don't get second chances once they've blown it early on. I mean you gamble badly early on, you can't get your money back unless you're going on a win streak. We could very well lose the house on the next hand.</div> Cohan isn't known as a big spender but hes let it be known that he'd pay when the team needs it. He won't let Biedrins walk and won't let Monta walk if possible (I'm not totally clear on what the rules are for 2nd rounders now). Maybe Pietrus has to be let go but thanks to Mullin we've got plenty of options to replace him at the SG/SF position with Barnes, Azubuike, and next year hes got picks to work with. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Until, he's an all-star he's pretty much like our other guys. Yet to be seen. He's the only good big we've had in years because guys get kept blowing the draft when Twardzick or Pj was in power, or we've fallen short where all the good big guys get taken.</div> The only C that we've had in the lat decade who rivals Andris is Dampier, and he only played when he wanted money. Biedrins is 20 years old already dominating on defense and rebounding, hes not much like the bigs we've had before IMO but I don't think it will take him too long to distinguish himself from them. You made my point too, Mullin DID get Biedrins while Twardz and PJ didn't do anything but waste lotto picks and fail miserably. Mullin turned an 11th overall pick into what will soon be a top 10, 5, maybe even 3 center in the league. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Let's not forget Isiah Thomas was a good drafter (for the most part) but he hasn't done jack in terms of the rest of the Gm game. So besides Baron Davis trade, what else has he done to surround Baron Davis with better talent? He hasn't done jack. Only Nelson really did anything because he's more of a GM IMO than Mullin is and he's a decent one because he knows exactly what might work in his system given the constraints. The GM shouldn't pick players for the coach, the coach should pick players unless his name is PJ Carlisimo or the coach doesn't have any vision or judge of raw talent.</div> The difference between Isiah and Mullin is that Mullin doesn't get effed hard in trades and acquire overpaid bums who not only can't play but are also headcases. Mullin is no whiz when it comes to managing the cap but recently hes shown that he will admit his mistakes and try to fix them, he didn't splurge and sign Pietrus when he had the chance in October/November, maybe hes learning. Murphy, Dunleavy, and Foyle were huge screw ups but they don't really compare to the Eddy Curry, Steve Francis, Quentin Richardson trades and Mullin doesn't sign FAs like Jerome James or Jared Jeffries. Isiah has not only screwed that franchise with their cap situation but also with headcases, traded off their first round picks, and the team doesn't fit together at all. There's no comparison other than that Mullin has screwed our cap and Isiah REALLY screwed the Knicks cap, as well as everything else in NY. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, it didn't hurt that Nelson was also Mullin's friend. If Nelson wasn't available, I'm not sure which new coach would be brave or desperate enough to accept a job coaching his weird lineup. IF being the keyword, "he shows better judgement in signing players, he'd be a very good GM." Well that's like saying if Dunleavy could only shoot better and not suck at defense. Signing players and making good judgement calls is probably 80% to GMing! So it being his only weakness is a major one. If you look at all the small market teams and how they've been successful is 1.) you draft well 2.) you find a team that fits the budget 3.) you find an anchor to build a franchise around 4.) you have flexibility to make trades, offseason signings or whatnot and hopefully the chemistry and stabilty of the roster doesn't go kaput.</div> So what if Nelson's his friend? Did he or did he not land him? He didn't settle for another terrible coach with no experience, he got someone who knows what hes doing and how to get to the playoffs. Sure its an "if" but Mullin is showing signs that he acknowledges his screw ups, other than signing Dunleavy, Murphy, Foyle, and Fish what has he done poorly as a GM? Perhaps you don't agree but he seems to be learning form his mistakes and if he corrects the problem he has with signing his own players then I'd say hes a pretty damn good overall GM.
<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Oh and Mullin finding good draft picks... he probably owes at least half to his scouts. I'm more concerned about what Mullin and company are doing when they're planning our longterm future. Everything has a cause and effect relationship and sometimes the momentum gets killed faster than Fisher or Pietrus getting an offensive foul or chucking a shot with 20 seconds left on the shot clock. I think in the end, a good GM who knows the game in and out as a player, a coach, and has plenty of talented friends or workmates, will win the day. Strong ownership also helps. We tend to have questionable everything. I'm sorry. But I think history has shown that and the current state of the Warriors leaves little to believe we could be more optimistic. We're not exactly beating our old record in this point of time, injuries or not. Hell, I would love to be the Warriors owner right now. I could make money off a team I don't even have to try to make good because fans will still pay for it. Anyway sorry to be negative. I'd honestly have to say the one warrior that hampers things has been Dunleavy or.... Murphy. Those guys do the same thing on D with obvious differences. They get overpowered or outquicked or outhustled. We can't fly with that crap unless we have an offensive mismatch to look the other way on defense. Those guys don't do anything but shoot the ball and very streaky.</div> Ok, now its starting to get a bit ridiculous. I don't think anything I say will help you to change your opinion on the guy.
Nope, would you change your opinion on Isiah Thomas? Mullin is of the same mold IMO, but with obviously different levels of "pulling the trigger" on trades. They were both great players in their hayday, but aren't good Gms to put one's faith in. Also, Nelson being friends with Mullin is important, because I dont' think Nelson would coach for the Warriors if Mullin wasn't his friend. This team ain't going anywhere unless it can improve financially and bargain with its own free agents. The second thing is that if Mullin didn't know Nelson, he probably would have gotten a lesser coach friend of his like Mario Elie (nothing against Elie btw) or some guy we think is good, but probably won't enjoy or make the most of small ball like Nelly does. It's a bad lineup right now and we think we have flexibility, but I'd like to have seen that flexibility exercised last offseason.
I'm starting to agree with CR2. It is an absolutely HUGE move to fire a GM and find another one. It could be like starting from square one all over again, so I have been patient. But Mullin isn't a very good GM. He hasn't done enough in three+ years. A good GM always tries to improve his team. Not stand pat. The biggest move this year was firing Monty and hiring Nelson, but why did he hire Monty in the first place? Our team is on the fringe right now. We may be in the playoffs on paper only. It won't take much for us to fall out. One or two bad losing streaks and we will be done. In hiring Nelson, we now find that Mullin's recent draft picks don't fit in very well. Ike remains glued to the bench and POB has been sent down to the NBDL. Our second round pick doesn't seem like a good fit either and remains in Europe. I sound like a broken record, but just look at how we are hampered by the cap because he doled out those overgenerous contracts. How can anyone think Mike Dunleavy was any good? It's one thing that he didn't live up to his #3 pick. Okay, I can excuse that. But to give him equivalent money of the best small forwards in the league afterwards is plain stupid. Stupidity breeds stupidity. It started with Adonal Foyle and continued on to Derek Fisher. As for JRich and Troy Murphy, he should've held the line harder. Instead he was bent over. There was no pressure to give out these ridiculous contracts !!! If Jerry West becomes available, the we should go after him. As for anyone else, I'm not sure who's available. It can't be that hard to find someone better than Mullin.
You sound like a broken record, jv??? I'm the broken record here. I'm telling ya I don't feel good about this team right now or the direction, regardless of Don Nelson. It's kind of late for him at this point... I'm sure I'm not the only one. ESPN board kind of has me backed quite a bit, Real GM is kind of agreeing with my points (I don't really add anything new there that hasn't already been said). I hope optimism isn't dead or else we'd all be doing other things instead of coming together and supporting each other and keeping each other's expectations in equillibrium. I know someday we'll turn the corner, but it's like with Bush's presidency. How many people feel content with the state of our government? We can be optimstic that the government is doing everything in the people's best interests, or we can believe that the government was selfish and high powered people and their constituents were working towards their own benefit. Don't argue this btw, I'm just saying for example. Our country is split on some issues, just like the Warriors fans are split on whether or not we'll make it through all right through the next decade.
I'd give Mullin a mixed grade,Nellie an incomplete,along with quite a few of the players. We are around .500 in spite of an epidemic of injuries that has been the worst in a long time....and hit as we're trying to remake the players,the style,as well as polish young talent into efficient players. There is NO QUICK FIX. We won't just conveniently swap 3 dimes and get back a dollar....I'd worry more we get the reverse of that by getting desperate to do SOMETHING. There were 4 buyout players who are on the books. They,and Zarko,McLeod,expire. Add that to Pietrus current $ and hecan get around a $7 mill deal,or at least a bit over MLE money without adding payroll. Barnes? That can mean some lux tax. In a year and a half,it's time to sign Biedrins and Ellis. Then ,if we have not found any cap dump,we can have signigicant Lux tax,however-the following summer-Foyle and Baron expire-about $26 mill. Then,Murphy,J Rich,Dunleavy have become fairly short contracts. The injury problems have meant we got more minutes to let some guys play,emerge. Barnes and Azubuike are outplaying a lot of guys who were drafted this year. Speaking of draft...There was never any thought P O'Bryant was going to step in before midseason as a pretty decent player. By the way...tonight T Duncan is 3-9 at the FT line....it ain't just Warriors. As time passes-the players will tend to play with more skill and consistancy-and merge more as a team. Nellie will discover new tricks while weeding out those that don't work. Very big-guys will get healthy long enough to get their full effectiveness. We hung in at .500 handicapped-so we SHOULD do better later.
good points REREM, but we should do better later as in next season? Or when the games don't matter because we missed the playoffs again? I'm just kidding. Hopefully, there's an answer. We're not expecting a quick fix, but some sign of this team improving its weaknesses. Haven't seen it in the last few seasons. Now few people on warriors forums liked Tim Kawakami's articles, but he was right about this team. It just depends on one player too much because the rest of the team wasn't built that soundly. Now if Nelson could have been picking the last two drafts, maybe the outcome would be different because I think he would have a better idea where he'd want to take his team. But I guess we've talked about this and there's nothing we can do... Also, I gotta hurry this up. I'll try to check back on this and also reply to Clif's thing about St. Jean's vets vs. Mullin's vets. It could be a wash or maybe there's bias on my part.
Last nights game made me feel vulnerable. I mean AB is a relatively big guy, but Even Darko made him look small. We need straight up size! POB is big! I hope our euro project gets ready pretty fast. We need some SIZE just for intimidation. That is what their big guys did to us last night. I feel like curling up in the fetal position. I think that is why everyone is freaking out. No one acts like this after a win, its just the losses that make people think the sky is falling...
<div class="quote_poster">REREM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">There is NO QUICK FIX. We won't just conveniently swap 3 dimes and get back a dollar....I'd worry more we get the reverse of that by getting desperate to do SOMETHING.</div> It's because Mullin gave out those ridiculous contracts. He was blasted by the media and this board when he re-signed Adonal Foyle and then got Derek Fisher. There wasn't another offer on the table that was close! I'll let JRich and Troy Murphy go as there was some backlash, but not a super great amount. But the Mike Dunleavy re-signing was even more ridiculous!!! Even the Sports Guy took notice of that and blasted Mullin. It is why Mullin is in the top 5 of worst GMs in the NBA. That is why there is no quick fix. Put the blame where it lies -- on Mullin and Higgins. You got to take into account lost opportunity costs. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There were 4 buyout players who are on the books. They,and Zarko,McLeod,expire. Add that to Pietrus current $ and hecan get around a $7 mill deal,or at least a bit over MLE money without adding payroll. Barnes? That can mean some lux tax. In a year and a half,it's time to sign Biedrins and Ellis. Then ,if we have not found any cap dump,we can have signigicant Lux tax,however-the following summer-Foyle and Baron expire-about $26 mill. Then,Murphy,J Rich,Dunleavy have become fairly short contracts.</div> I'm not as sure as you that they will end up being expiring contracts for the Warriors. Likely, they will be used as sweetner in any deal Mullin tries to make to get rid of his huge albatross contracts. I agree we should try to re-sign MP and Barnes, but for a reasonable price. Even if we have to go over the cap and into lux tax land. Still, there is no guarantee Mullin and Higgins will be able to dump the albatrosses, so we will be in a position to re-sign AB and Monta. It's something else to worry about due to lack of planning and foresight on Mullin's part. BTW Foyle expires after Baron and I wouldn't lump JRich in with bad contracts.
Foyle's 4th yr is TEAM option. So...he and Baron expire in 2 1/2 yrs. Z and McLeod could be add-ons to a deal,but,as an example-it could be something kind of like Murphy-McLeod for PJ Brown + future rd 2...in which case McL is just fill,and Brown's sole purpose is salary dump. I don't see a probable deal in which we trade-increasing future payroll,like Player X plus McLeod for player Y who's contract is higher than player X. There could be scenarios for such a deal,if the talent justified. Richardson-Murphy had been starters several years,Were our #1 scorer/#3 rebounder and our #1 rebounder /#3 scorer. This season both are dealing with injuries and that's delaying them getting "Nellified". Their trade value won't be lower at the deadline or post season. Dunleavy,however,is playing about as well as he ever will....which is not that good. There isn't much advantage to waiting to deal him. Mullin's generosity will cost us. Dunleavy COULD have been swapped prior to this contract for something. Now we likely pack him with a #1 pick just to do a dump job. With Murphy,we can point to 3 seasons of +10 boards,a legit 6-11,quite a few 15 rbd or 20 pt games over recent years. With Dun we can't say he is a top 15 rbd guy,or has size for PF/C. It's hard to say he has a position where he matches up well. We can claim he's the rare bird who has played all 5 spots-more or less. As erratic as he is-there were games when he had a good line,a nice # of assists,20+ pts. If someone does not inspect his bad games too careful......we might escape with minor damage,like a car wreck where after the shock you kind of feel good because you expected much worse.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Foyle's 4th yr is TEAM option. So...he and Baron expire in 2 1/2 yrs. Z and McLeod could be add-ons to a deal,but,as an example-it could be something kind of like Murphy-McLeod for PJ Brown + future rd 2...in which case McL is just fill,and Brown's sole purpose is salary dump.</div> I shouldn't just rely on realgm. Anyway, I wish Mullin would buy Foyle out. Foyle isn't going to be a significant player in Nelson's system and we have Nelson for three years before he probably retires. That way we have a roster opening in case we find another player from the NBDL or someone on the free agent list. The NBDL isn't exactly a farm system, but it helps in finding another possible player that was missed in the draft. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't see a probable deal in which we trade-increasing future payroll,like Player X plus McLeod for player Y who's contract is higher than player X. There could be scenarios for such a deal,if the talent justified.
