Some good vids: [video=youtube;KN-S7vUTaP8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN-S7vUTaP8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN-S7vUTaP8[/video] [video=youtube;10Ud9IqIo2Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10Ud9IqIo2Q"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10Ud9IqIo2Q[/video] [video=youtube;jtkr7nazogg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtkr7nazogg&feature=related[/video] [video=youtube;42hus4y-QqM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42hus4y-QqM&feature=related[/video]
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clif25 @ Jul 23 2008, 12:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Now, I must ask: Can we (the Warriors) please sign Monta and Andris soon?</div> Yeah, I am thinking about the same thing. Will Mullin please sign them soon, so that we can sleep bit easier? It's bit weird to see us reloading our entire back up guards. We gave up Pietrus, Barnes and Azu for Williams, Evans, and Marco. At least, Evans is cheaper than Azu. I also would like to see Morrow in our roster. Even though it's only a summer league, he is really shooting well...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (kobe23 @ Jul 23 2008, 12:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>they got pietrus... thats why they let go of dooling and mo evans... Why is GS downgrading and giving up basically the same amt of money? from baron to maggette azubuike for mo evans</div> I'm not sure what Mullin is thinking on this deal. I rather have Azubuike than Mo Evans even though he comes at a cheaper price. I'm beginning to sound like a Negative Nellie this season, but all of the deals Mullin has made after signing Maggette and Turiaf suck. It's too bad we didn't get Mo Williams instead of Marcus Williams and Mo Evans. Sheesh.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jason voorhees @ Jul 23 2008, 02:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (kobe23 @ Jul 23 2008, 12:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>they got pietrus... thats why they let go of dooling and mo evans... Why is GS downgrading and giving up basically the same amt of money? from baron to maggette azubuike for mo evans</div> I'm not sure what Mullin is thinking on this deal. I rather have Azubuike than Mo Evans even though he comes at a cheaper price. I'm beginning to sound like a Negative Nellie this season, but all of the deals Mullin has made after signing Maggette and Turiaf suck. It's too bad we didn't get Mo Williams instead of Marcus Williams and Mo Evans. Sheesh. </div> Mo Williams has a sizable and long contract. Unless if you were adamant about Mo Williams as the long term starting point guard for the Warriors, then I am not so sure whether bringing in Mo Williams would have been that great of a move. Plus the Warriors would have needed to give up something for Williams. I am not sure if the Warriors had anything that the Bucks would have really wanted for Williams anyway. I would have guessed something like Harrington and perhaps a second round pick for Mo Williams could have been close to legit. But they have Richard Jefferson at SF and Charlie Villanueva at PF already. I guess the next option would had been a 3 team trade...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kwan1031 @ Jul 23 2008, 02:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clif25 @ Jul 23 2008, 12:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Now, I must ask: Can we (the Warriors) please sign Monta and Andris soon?</div> Yeah, I am thinking about the same thing. Will Mullin please sign them soon, so that we can sleep bit easier? It's bit weird to see us reloading our entire back up guards. We gave up Pietrus, Barnes and Azu for Williams, Evans, and Marco. At least, Evans is cheaper than Azu. I also would like to see Morrow in our roster. Even though it's only a summer league, he is really shooting well... </div> Seriously, Morrow has been lighting it up. I believe someone posted that he has a contract with a team in Europe. I am not sure if that will complicate the process of trying to add him to the team. I'd love to see him invited to camp though. He has deserved it.
He hit so many dagger 3's against the Raptors in the playoffs. Pietrus' defense is much better, but I personally would be more confident depending on Evans to fill a consistent role. Solid signing by GS.
I'm so happy to not have to think about watching Pietrus and Barnes frustrating inconsistency this year (although Randolph may bring that). There really do seem to be too many small players on this roster rght now, even for a Don Nelson one. If SJax and Maggette each get 36 minutes per game this year (less than they played last year), that only leaves 24 combined minutes at the SF and SG positions. I guarantee you Monta is going to play some time at SG too. So that like less than 20 minutes remaining for about 4-5 other players, it doesn't look too good. I think RunBJM is right and some other trade must be coming to thin those positions out a bit. Even though I wouldn't mind keeping Belinelli for another year, I'm not super high on him though, if his trade value is decent I say use it. I don't see a complete player there, just another extremely streaky shooter prone to chucking with some passing skills but not much else. You can't go 1-10 in the NBA on a winning team, you just cannot do it. What wins in the NBA is controlled athleticism, but with consistency and discipline, and we now have a lot more of that than we had last year IMO. Look at the players we got rid of. Baron, Barnes, Pietrus, and Azubuike. Except for maybe Azu, those are all UNdisciplined, INconsistent players. I haven't checked the stats but I also think we have more guys who can get to the freethrow line and cash in there, that's going to be important. Also, it doesn't seem like you can give Harrington away right now.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kwan1031 @ Jul 23 2008, 02:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clif25 @ Jul 23 2008, 12:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Now, I must ask: Can we (the Warriors) please sign Monta and Andris soon?</div> Yeah, I am thinking about the same thing. Will Mullin please sign them soon, so that we can sleep bit easier? It's bit weird to see us reloading our entire back up guards. We gave up Pietrus, Barnes and Azu for Williams, Evans, and Marco. At least, Evans is cheaper than Azu. I also would like to see Morrow in our roster. Even though it's only a summer league, he is really shooting well... </div> Off-season recap: Departures: - Baron Davis (5/65) - Mickael Pietrus (5/30) - Matt Barnes (1/1.2) - Kelenna Azubuike (3/10) - POB (2/min) - Future pick Additions: - Corey Maggette (5/50) - Ronny Turiaf (4/17) - Mo Evans (3/6) - Marcus Williams (future conditional pick) - Anthony Randolph (14th overall pick) - Richard Hendrix (48th overall pick) New rotation: Monta/Williams/Watson Jackson/Monta/Beli/Evans Mags/Evans/Randolph Al/Wright/Hendrix Biedrins/Turiaf Looking at that I do like the type of players Mullin is bringing in since BD left. They may not actually translate to being as good but these guys are all athletic, hard working, tough, consistent, energetic, players who are going to really push the young core in practice and show them the right way to prepare and play in the NBA. I still have a hard time thinking this squad is going to be as good as last year's but they definitely can and should be better defensively, rebounding, and hopefully in team FG% and 3 pt shooting. Like Hirez said, it'll be a relief going into games not knowing what the hell Barnes and Pietrus are going to bring (and you could even lump Baron in there especially at the end of the year).
Update from MT2, Evans backed out of the deal and wants more money. Kelenna still a possibility. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Warriors still need a back-up swing man, but it may not be Kelenna Azubuike, as I expected. According to a Warriors source, they are talking to swingman Maurice Evans, who was no longer needed in Orlando once Mickael Pieteus signed with the Magic. The Riverside Press Enterprise reported he signed for three years, $6.4 million. But he has not signed the deal, the source said. The numbers were settled on before Evans backed out. Why? You’re right. He wants more money. So, here’s the deal. If Evans wants too much, the Warriors will match Kelenna Azubuike, who plays the same position. If Evans takes the offer, they will sign him and let Azubuike go to the Clippers, who signed him to the offer sheet for three years and just over $9 million. The Warriors aren’t jumping too much higher, if at all. He certainly won’t be getting the deal Azubuike will. Evans turns 30 in November. Azubuike turns 25 in December. This all has to go down by Friday, the Warriors’ deadline for matching Azubuike. Which would you want? The veteran with playoff experience who is limited, but you know what he is going to bring? Or the young, sometimes inconsistent player oozing with the potential to be more than a role player?</div> http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (HiRez @ Jul 23 2008, 11:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm so happy to not have to think about watching Pietrus and Barnes frustrating inconsistency this year (although Randolph may bring that). There really do seem to be too many small players on this roster rght now, even for a Don Nelson one. If SJax and Maggette each get 36 minutes per game this year (less than they played last year), that only leaves 24 combined minutes at the SF and SG positions. I guarantee you Monta is going to play some time at SG too. So that like less than 20 minutes remaining for about 4-5 other players, it doesn't look too good. I think RunBJM is right and some other trade must be coming to thin those positions out a bit. Even though I wouldn't mind keeping Belinelli for another year, I'm not super high on him though, if his trade value is decent I say use it. I don't see a complete player there, just another extremely streaky shooter prone to chucking with some passing skills but not much else. You can't go 1-10 in the NBA on a winning team, you just cannot do it. What wins in the NBA is controlled athleticism, but with consistency and discipline, and we now have a lot more of that than we had last year IMO. Look at the players we got rid of. Baron, Barnes, Pietrus, and Azubuike. Except for maybe Azu, those are all UNdisciplined, INconsistent players. I haven't checked the stats but I also think we have more guys who can get to the freethrow line and cash in there, that's going to be important. Also, it doesn't seem like you can give Harrington away right now.</div> I think the Warriors have a nice balance of players, size-wise. Unless if something drastic happens, the Warriors will have Andris and Turiaf at center (and maybe Kosta); Harrington, Wright, Hendrix (who seems to be a rebounding machine) at the PF position; Maggette and Randolph at the SF position - Maggette who is tough and gets to the hoop and can play physically, and Randolph who is about 7 feet tall. So I think the Warriors have enough size or bigs. Maybe one more could help, but it's not that dire in my opinion. But how the guard positions/rotations work will be interesting to see. I think there is a lot of potential there with Monta, CJ Watson, Marcus Williams, and Marco, while having some legit vets like Evans and Stephen Jackson. Unless if I am forgetting someone, maybe the team will add that Morrow guy on the summer league team to the roster. Last year I remember seeing a lot of lineups with Pietrus and Barnes as the PF, perhaps one more year experienced Brandan Wright, and the additions made in the draft - Hendrix and Randolph - will actually help the team have bigger lineups than used last season.
Biedrins, Harrington, Maggette, Jackson, Ellis Wright, Belinelli, Watson, Randolph, Turiaf, Evans/Azu?, Williams Hmm. That's 12 players right there, what about Hendrix and Morrow and Kosta? Someone is not going to make it, or spend the whole year in the D League. Then again, playing all year in the D League might actually be better than being a rookie on Nelson's bench, certainly in terms of PT it would be. I really hope Hendrix will be there and Morrow has been super hot lately in Summer League. I guess ideally I'd like to see a 2-for-1 swap with Harrington and someone else (maybe Belinelli) to make room for Hendrix. Harrington is another of the type of inconsistent player that the Warriors have been purging, the problem is BWright is not ready to be an NBA starter yet.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (HiRez @ Jul 23 2008, 11:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Look at the players we got rid of. Baron, Barnes, Pietrus, and Azubuike. Except for maybe Azu, those are all UNdisciplined, INconsistent players.</div> Yeah, Baron, Barnes and Pietrus were incredibly inconsistent (although Baron always "got his"). But Azibuike? He's one of the most consistent players, in the entire NBA, that I can think of. Never makes mistakes, it seems, and always produces when he's on the floor. It looks like the Warriors might match Az if Evans holds out of the deal. I won't mind that at all. In fact, whichever player we end up with will be fine with me. I like both.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clif25 @ Jul 23 2008, 10:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Mo Williams has a sizable and long contract. Unless if you were adamant about Mo Williams as the long term starting point guard for the Warriors, then I am not so sure whether bringing in Mo Williams would have been that great of a move. Plus the Warriors would have needed to give up something for Williams. I am not sure if the Warriors had anything that the Bucks would have really wanted for Williams anyway. I would have guessed something like Harrington and perhaps a second round pick for Mo Williams could have been close to legit. But they have Richard Jefferson at SF and Charlie Villanueva at PF already. I guess the next option would had been a 3 team trade...</div> I mentioned Mo because he is a legit starting PG and younger than Baron, but upon further review, he may not be the guy the Warriors need. He's definitely a great shooter (better than Baron in that regards), but we need more of a creator and playmaker like Baron. I have to agree that it will take more than AL to get him. I dunno. I'm resigned to go with Monta at starting PG at this point.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AlleyOop @ Jul 23 2008, 02:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (HiRez @ Jul 23 2008, 11:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Look at the players we got rid of. Baron, Barnes, Pietrus, and Azubuike. Except for maybe Azu, those are all UNdisciplined, INconsistent players.</div> Yeah, Baron, Barnes and Pietrus were incredibly inconsistent (although Baron always "got his"). But Azibuike? He's one of the most consistent players, in the entire NBA, that I can think of. Never makes mistakes, it seems, and always produces when he's on the floor. It looks like the Warriors might match Az if Evans holds out of the deal. I won't mind that at all. In fact, whichever player we end up with will be fine with me. I like both. </div> You can't assume it's an either/or situation. I was figuring Mullin was going with Evans because he would've saved a few million (in order to free up cap for Monta and AB), but if Evans' price goes too high, then he may look elsewhere. It's too bad My Bad is gone now .
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jason voorhees @ Jul 23 2008, 03:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AlleyOop @ Jul 23 2008, 02:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (HiRez @ Jul 23 2008, 11:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Look at the players we got rid of. Baron, Barnes, Pietrus, and Azubuike. Except for maybe Azu, those are all UNdisciplined, INconsistent players.</div> Yeah, Baron, Barnes and Pietrus were incredibly inconsistent (although Baron always "got his"). But Azibuike? He's one of the most consistent players, in the entire NBA, that I can think of. Never makes mistakes, it seems, and always produces when he's on the floor. It looks like the Warriors might match Az if Evans holds out of the deal. I won't mind that at all. In fact, whichever player we end up with will be fine with me. I like both. </div> You can't assume it's an either/or situation. I was figuring Mullin was going with Evans because he would've saved a few million (in order to free up cap for Monta and AB), but if Evans' price goes too high, then he may look elsewhere. It's too bad My Bad is gone now . </div> Funny that you say that because Kawakami just said that Mullin looks at it as an "either or thing": <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>No update on the Maurice Evans/Kelenna Azubuike possible signing situations, other than Mullin basically agreed that it’ll come down to an either/or thing.</div> http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2008...sound-familiar/
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Run BJM @ Jul 23 2008, 05:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Funny that you say that because Kawakami just said that Mullin looks at it as an "either or thing": <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>No update on the Maurice Evans/Kelenna Azubuike possible signing situations, other than Mullin basically agreed that it’ll come down to an either/or thing.</div> http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2008...sound-familiar/ </div> In the first place, Mullin should've been thinking matching Azu since that's what he said. It wasn't as definite as Monta or Beans, but it should've been pretty close. If you give up MP and Matt Barnes, then you got to bring Azu back who is familiar with the Warriors system. I rather keep good guys who are familiar with the Warriors system as part of internal development. We shouldn't be in a either/or situation unless bringing them back hits the cap too much. Bottom line: Azu may cost more, but he's twenty five and still has upside.
I don't think there's any question the Warriors would like to keep Azubuike, I just think they thought the price was too steep for how many minutes he's be able to contribute. I don't think it's anything against Kelenna personally, just business.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (HiRez @ Jul 23 2008, 06:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't think there's any question the Warriors would like to keep Azubuike, I just think they thought the price was too steep for how many minutes he's be able to contribute. I don't think it's anything against Kelenna personally, just business.</div> I wouldn't be so sure that the Warriors wanted to keep me if I was Azubuike. This sounds just like the situation Baron was in. First, they tell me that they want to keep me, so I bring back a contract that I think they'll match. The next thing you know, I'm reading in the papers that the Warriors signed Mo Evans. I did my part and now the Warriors are backing away from their word. Is it any wonder the top free agents don't want to come here? I'm not sure if it's Mullin doing or Cohan's though. This is similar to what happened to Baron. The W's tell me that they want to keep me. OTOH, I want to get a multi-year extension and stay with the Warriors. However, the W's low ball me. Thinking they are negotiating hard, I wait until the last minute for their "real" final offer. It never comes so I have to scramble to get plan B in place.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jason voorhees @ Jul 23 2008, 07:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (HiRez @ Jul 23 2008, 06:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't think there's any question the Warriors would like to keep Azubuike, I just think they thought the price was too steep for how many minutes he's be able to contribute. I don't think it's anything against Kelenna personally, just business.</div> I wouldn't be so sure that the Warriors wanted to keep me if I was Azubuike. This sounds just like the situation Baron was in. First, they tell me that they want to keep me, so I bring back a contract that I think they'll match. The next thing you know, I'm reading in the papers that the Warriors signed Mo Evans. I did my part and now the Warriors are backing away from their word. Is it any wonder the top free agents don't want to come here? I'm not sure if it's Mullin doing or Cohan's though. This is similar to what happened to Baron. The W's tell me that they want to keep me. OTOH, I want to get a multi-year extension and stay with the Warriors. However, the W's low ball me. Thinking they are negotiating hard, I wait until the last minute for their "real" final offer. It never comes so I have to scramble to get plan B in place. </div> I don't really see how those situations are related, at all, actually. Baron is an aging PG who turned down a ton of money to explore the open market. He CHOSE not to take a ridiculous amount of money (17+ mils) from the Warriors so he could test the waters. He and everyone else knew GS was not going to give him a superstar contract. They have a ton of young prospects who need to learn team ball, and 5 more years of Baron wasn't really in the plans unless it was a great price. Why opt out unless it's to try to get more money somewhere else? He could have stayed, gotten paid like a superstar, and proven himself for his FA next year. He chose to go. Az, on the other hand, is a D-League prospect who was given his shot by the Warriors. Az could just as easily stayed in the D-League if it wasn't for Mullin. He owes his NBA career to Nellie, as of right now, who gave him playing time on a crowded roster and let him prove himself from the depths of the unknown. The Warriors don't owe Az anything. He owes it to them, IMO. They didn't low-ball him -- they have priorities (see Monta, Beans, and the loss of Baron) to address, and Az isn't high up on that list, plain and simple. I love Az, and really hope he comes back. But the Warriors aren't "backing away from their word," IMO. They have to take care of the roster, and cap space is tight with Monta/Beans. Every mils counts. Good for Az for signing his deal with the Clips. I hope GS matches, but if not, there's no love lost.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AlleyOop @ Jul 23 2008, 07:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jason voorhees @ Jul 23 2008, 07:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (HiRez @ Jul 23 2008, 06:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't think there's any question the Warriors would like to keep Azubuike, I just think they thought the price was too steep for how many minutes he's be able to contribute. I don't think it's anything against Kelenna personally, just business.</div> I wouldn't be so sure that the Warriors wanted to keep me if I was Azubuike. This sounds just like the situation Baron was in. First, they tell me that they want to keep me, so I bring back a contract that I think they'll match. The next thing you know, I'm reading in the papers that the Warriors signed Mo Evans. I did my part and now the Warriors are backing away from their word. Is it any wonder the top free agents don't want to come here? I'm not sure if it's Mullin doing or Cohan's though. This is similar to what happened to Baron. The W's tell me that they want to keep me. OTOH, I want to get a multi-year extension and stay with the Warriors. However, the W's low ball me. Thinking they are negotiating hard, I wait until the last minute for their "real" final offer. It never comes so I have to scramble to get plan B in place. </div> I don't really see how those situations are related, at all, actually. Baron is an aging PG who turned down a ton of money to explore the open market. He CHOSE not to take a ridiculous amount of money (17+ mils) from the Warriors so he could test the waters. He and everyone else knew GS was not going to give him a superstar contract. They have a ton of young prospects who need to learn team ball, and 5 more years of Baron wasn't really in the plans unless it was a great price. Why opt out unless it's to try to get more money somewhere else? He could have stayed, gotten paid like a superstar, and proven himself for his FA next year. He chose to go. Az, on the other hand, is a D-League prospect who was given his shot by the Warriors. Az could just as easily stayed in the D-League if it wasn't for Mullin. He owes his NBA career to Nellie, as of right now, who gave him playing time on a crowded roster and let him prove himself from the depths of the unknown. The Warriors don't owe Az anything. He owes it to them, IMO. They didn't low-ball him -- they have priorities (see Monta, Beans, and the loss of Baron) to address, and Az isn't high up on that list, plain and simple. I love Az, and really hope he comes back. But the Warriors aren't "backing away from their word," IMO. They have to take care of the roster, and cap space is tight with Monta/Beans. Every mils counts. Good for Az for signing his deal with the Clips. I hope GS matches, but if not, there's no love lost. </div> I can see that we're not going to agree. Baron gave up the huge one year contract for a longer term one at less salary. If the Warriors offered him a three year extension, then I could see him going for it. Then the Clips wouldn't even be part of the equation. However, the Warriors offered him a ridiculously lowball offer leading Baron to opt out. It just goes to show you that the Warriors do not value internal development and would rather rebuild haphazardly. C'mon offering a huge contract to Gilbert and Brand wasn't anything the Warriors had planned on doing. Azubuike is a similar case. The Warriors want to re-sign him, but they have to re-sign Monta and Beans who have a higher priority. This is the only point we agree on. After that should be Azu, but suddenly the Warriors took a detour with Mo Evans. That's the part I really don't get. This should not be an either/or situation. We should go after Azu unless he's too expensive to re-sign in addition to Monta and Beans. Then I could see Evans being another option, but this is not the way it went down. Mullin thought Evans is just as good as Azu and decided to go after him in order to save money. The former values internal development while the latter values saving money and constantly rebuilding.
