* oops, that's supposed to be Marcus Thompson, not Banks lol http://www.contracostatimes.com/warriors/ci_11694066?nclick_check=1 Well, first off, I like the fact that Randolph wants to be here his entire career. And I like the fact that we aren't hearing more about his uncle, but instead we're hearing about improving deficiencies, attitude, and hard work in practice. Good sign. As far as the Crawford bit at the end: Huh? Do "many" really expect Crawford to opt out of the remaining $20 mils/2 years? That would be a godsend for the Warriors. Please, do it Jamaal. You can get $120 mils/5 years somewhere... maybe Knicks?
Re: Marcus Banks: Randolph hires Duffy as his agent (+ Crawford observation) It would definitely be a godsend if Jamal opted out. It's not a HUGE contract, but it's hefty enough to give us some more flexibility and it helps alleviate the logjam at the guard position, but we still have too many guards that are worthy to be in the rotation. One or two more need to go. I've said it previously, CJ Watson and Kelenna are my top candidates to leave. I'm too high on Marco and Morrow to let them go via trade or FA. To secure those guys' future with the Warriors, the Warriors should look to move Azubuike and CJ before the trade deadline.
Re: Marcus Banks: Randolph hires Duffy as his agent (+ Crawford observation) ^^i dont know about that. i feel like buke is one of the best bargains in the nba. where else are we gonna get a guy like that for that price?
Re: Marcus Banks: Randolph hires Duffy as his agent (+ Crawford observation) It's not out of the question at all the Jamal opts out. What's the difference between the contract offers he'll get at age 29 vs. 31? Hes more likely to get a long term deal at a decent yearly salary now than he will be at 31. Sure he may not get the yearly money hes making now but he won't get that at 31 either right? And the years will be less. If he thinks he can get 8 mil/year for 5 years (40 mil total) from someone this offseason he might prefer that long term security compared with taking the 20 mil left on his contract and then potentially getting very little or nothing when hes 30. What if his production falls? What if he gets a major injury and is significantly worse? Hes not getting any younger. These are the things hes thinking about I'm sure so if he and his agent get the impression that he can get a decent sized, long term contract now then they might opt to do that. Otherwise he could take his 20 mil now and gamble on what he'll be worth when his contract is up. This will be a strange offseason though where few teams will have cap room and even the ones that do will want to save it for 2010 so the chances of him opting out are less likely than usual. I disagree with you on moving Azu though. CJ has been driving me NUTS lately, I can't stand when hes on the floor and I wouldn't mind moving him. Notice how hes been screwing up lately and Monta has been coming in for him? We're better with Monta at point (I know Jamal is technically the PG but Monta and CJ = the same role on this team essentially) because CJ doesn't even get assists anyway and if hes not hitting the mid-range J then hes worthless. That being said, its been reported that teams call about CJ because hes turned into a solid backup type PG. He doesn't turn the ball over much, works hard on D, hes money when hes open, etc. I'd probably love him if we had a legit PG and a more "traditional system" but on this team hes pretty much worthless since IMO Jack, Beli, and Crawford are better playmakers and do nearly everything else better except shoot the mid-range J (Monta is about the same level playmaking wise but is obviously better overall as well). The main problem is CJ is too small to play alongside Monta most of the time and their games are redundant though obviously CJ is a homeless man's version of Monta. We need big PGs next to Monta or guys like Jack, Craw, and Beli who are SGs who also create. Backup PG is a role that nearly every team covets and few teams are satisfied with their current situations. Teams looking to make a push for the POs want that depth. Hes not a blue chip but hes a decent asset that could warrant a little something in a trade, especially if we make it a bigger package and hes a solid toss in that a team would demand. Azu is different though. His small contract makes me want to hold onto him, not move him. We need to focus on dumping Mags/Jack/Crawford for cap relief, not dumping our best bang for the buck value contracts. That's the beauty of Azu and his deal though. We can dump any of those guys and Azu is still putting up similar scoring numbers at a fraction of the cost. Preferably Mags is the one who goes because hes the most easily replaced by Azu/Morrow plus it opens up more PF minutes for Randolph/Wright. I wouldn't be heart-broken if we moved Azu but I'd rather hold him and trade one of the big money guys since he can fill in for most of their production at a much smaller price. Trading Azu won't change our financial troubles at all- we'll still have way too many players getting paid the big bucks. That's a nice fluff piece about Randolph too btw. I'm sure hes just saying what his agent is telling him. I hope Randolph will listen to Duffy though. Duffy is right that the coach makes the decisions and Randolph just needs to work hard and improve (and Nellie says hes been doing that).
Re: Marcus Banks: Randolph hires Duffy as his agent (+ Crawford observation) I agree with your general statements about CJ, all except the D. In my opinion, he is a horrible defender. He allows opposing point guards to penetrate at will (and penetration is what sabotages a defense). He also gambles way too often. Yes, he's quick and he moves around (like Crawford), but he doesn't use that quickness to be an effective defender. He uses it to "fake it." He doesn't get in the way of the opposing PG. Instead he runs around and tries to jump the passing lanes, because he knows that's his only way of preventing the PG from dicing him up. When he's faced up, 1-on-1, he's chopped liver. Notice how about 50% of the time, he ends up behind the PG, watching the PGs back as the PG is past him, driving into the lane? It's because he has either a) unsuccessfully jumped the passing lane or b) allowed his man to go right around him because he has no strength to body up and stay in front. It's bad. I totally agree. It would be a horrible move, IMO, to dump Azu. He is one of the right pieces on this team. A solid, dependable, hard working swing man who rebounds, defends, shoots well, and doesn't turn it over. Plus he's a bargain! To me, he's twice as valuable to this team as Maggette or Crawford, even though they have better numbers. Azu is something GS has done right. So is Beans, Monta, Randolph, Belly, and Morrow. So is Turiaf. Those are successes. Mags is not a success. It was a knee jerk reaction to Baron going. It was a band aid. Yes, he looks good as a 6th man, but so does Azu at a fraction of the $$. We gave Maggette huge cash to be a starter and it did not work out. Crawford? Well, that was a wash, because it's the same thing as if we were still stuck with Harrington. A high paid player who does little to make his teammates better. Id rather those minutes go to Monta, Morrow, and Belly when he comes back. Jack? Well, he's Dr. Jackle Mr. Hyde. One night, he's the worst player in the NBA. A headcase who ruins his team's chances with selfish play and tempertantrums. The next night, he's everybody's favorite teammate, a clutch assassin who can shut down an opposing star player with his defense (no, not Brandon Roy last night). I just don't know. Before, I was certain he was the player that needed to go most. Because he is not a leader, not a #1. He has been a bad example with his shot selection and attitude. But, as a complimentary player, as a big brother and defender, he shines like a star. He's invaluable. What this team needs is a true star, a true #1. When Baron was here, Jack was so much better, even though his numbers weren't the same, because he didn't have to do everything or think he was the veteran leader. baron was the man, and Jack was everybody's favorite teammate. I'm hoping Monta becomes the alpha male, the true star. Since Monta has been back, Jack has definitely looked better. I say hold onto Jack. have faith in him that he can come back around. He's showing signs. I just think the point guard experiment was a disaster. But I guess it was the best Nelson could think of. Jackson's stats have been large all year. However, now with Monta back, I am hoping Jacksons' leadership, attitude, hustle, and defense com back into form. I hope he can do that. I think Craw/Mags are definitely the two pieces to move. Toss in CJ Watson and/or Marcus Williams if it gets a deal done. Of course, that's probably wishful thinking...
Re: Marcus Banks: Randolph hires Duffy as his agent (+ Crawford observation) I do not disagree that we should be focusing on moving Maggete. But, I simply don't see anyone biting on any deal that involves him unless it's a team trying to find the final pieces to push them towards an NBA championship. I'm being very conservative when it comes to this. With that being said, we still have a logjam, not necessarily at the same position, but the same type of scoring player. This is the main reason I say move Azubuike, not for financial reasons (My mind is set that we are stuck with the financial nightmare we are in). Yes, I know Azu is a great bargain, which is why he would be easy to move. While we might be giving up on Azu, we'll be giving more opportunity to Marco and Morrow. To me, those two have a much higher ceiling than Azubuike. It's easy to say, "we need to move Maggette." No offense, but no sh!t. I would be very impressed with the Warriors' front office if they can unload him. But, I think it's going to come at a price...perhaps giving up one of our youngsters. If it was Brandan Wright, I wouldn't mind so much. If it was Marco, Morrow, or Randolph, I'd be pretty pissed. If it was Azubuike + Maggette, I wouldn't mind so much. We still have Marco and Morrow.
Re: Marcus Banks: Randolph hires Duffy as his agent (+ Crawford observation) I completely agree with you actually, I made sure to put "works hard" instead of "plays good defense" or something like that. I was mostly saying that because when I read about him in various articles it usually mentions him as a kind of pesky defender with quickness, active hands, etc. I agree with you that his D sucks. I can also see why outsiders would take a quick glance and think hes an energetic, active defender. He does look like it but the actual results aren't good at all. We're totally on the same wavelength, I was just commenting on what I believe the league-wide perception of him is. Agree and IMO Amare is that and that's why I want him. What's more hes a true star who is a 20/10 PF. Maybe I'm in the minority who thinks hes still a stud, thinks hes a stud with or without Nash (not saying he doesn't benefit from Nash though, who doesnt'?), and thinks hes dominant. Dude's a beast and hes a legit, go-to #1 scorer. A guy who can post up, face up, shoot the J, has a career 54% FG%. He can dominate in the paint, finishes like no other, hes a physical specimen. He has flaws but hes still a #1 type guy so IMO we ought to try our best to acquire him then worry about filling in the other holes later. Just my opinion though, I know a lot of people disagree. Monta could be a #1 type of guy. Look at how he responded when closing out the game last night. We still need to see how he does as the #1 guy for an extended period but there's hope there. It'd still be nice to have an inside-outside threat with he and Amare. A couple of freak athletes who can dominate their positions.
Re: Marcus Banks: Randolph hires Duffy as his agent (+ Crawford observation) I think CJ plays the passing lanes well, which is a testament to the coaching staff and the scouts.
Re: Marcus Banks: Randolph hires Duffy as his agent (+ Crawford observation) I agree Amare is a stud. I agree he can be dominant with or without help. But, in order to build a championship team (isn't that the goal), you can't just worry about filling in the other holes later. Look at all these teams that are on the cusp, like Cleveland, who need that one extra guy to get them over the hump. The Warriors have the luxury of having those ultimate role players like Biedrins and Jackson, but not the one star. But, that star could be in the making with our current roster. That's why I disagree with getting Amare "at all costs." Patience is virtue.
Re: Marcus Banks: Randolph hires Duffy as his agent (+ Crawford observation) I gotcha. And I see what you're saying, how from the outside he might look the part, even though a closer look would reveal the deficiencies. I totally concur. Amare would be a legit centerpiece star to build around. A few years ago, he was one of the most dominant players in the game. Not only that, but many considered him one of the rarest and most promising players in the history of the NBA (myself included). A tall power forward who can pogo-stick and dunk over anybody. Then he missed a year with the injury. But the year, after the injury, he played all 82 games. Then, last year, he put up career numbers again. He has proven tha the hasn't gone anywhere, and that he's as good if not better since the injury. He was the rare breed, until Dwight Howard came along. Now, those two players, along with LeBron, are probably three of the most amazing physical specimens ever to play the game. But, I'm not sure I'd give up just anything for him, simply because he's not the only player in the league with unbelievable talent. I mean, we have Monta, Beans, Randolph, Belly, Wright, and Morrow. Of those assets, I think Monta and Randolph have a chance of becoming all-stars. Beans is as valuable, but not #1 material. Monta and Randolph could be #1 material. I love Belly and Morrow, but they're not #1 material. Wright has been given enough time. Could turn into a good starter, but definitely not #1 material. So I could part with them in a trade. I would love to see Amare play with Monta/Beans/Randolph. But, honestly, I wouldn't want to give up any of those three to get him. I know it sounds crazy. He's already legit. He's already a superstar. They aren't yet, and may never be. The reason, though, is he only has one guaranteed year left (next year), and then a player option. So, if were to give up, say, Monta, Randolph and Mags for Amare, it might end up being a one-year rental before he goes FA in 2010. And, given our salary problems, he may bolt. That would suck to lose Monta/Randolph for a one-year rental, and then watch the Suns be dominant again. I say anything other than Monta/Beans/Randolph. Which would probably mean we would be out of the sweepstakes. I agree. Anything other than Monta/Beans/Randolph would be fair game to me if it means getting Amare.
Re: Marcus Banks: Randolph hires Duffy as his agent (+ Crawford observation) For the most part I would agree. Randolph had his 1st all-around good game yesterday. He was spectacular without trying to do too much. Hopefully he can keep focused. People forget that with Nelly, everyone gets in his doghouse at some point. He loves/trusts the ones that earn their way out. As for Monta, he probably won't hit full stride until the last month of the season. However... I think Randolph is worth risking for the chance at having an Amare, Beans, Turiaf, Wright core at the front. I love watching Monta play, but honestly, 2 guards are a dime a dozen. And If we lose an undersized 2 guard and a prospect for a legitimate star, I do it without hesitation. Especially because I think Bellinelli and Wright have some promise as well.
I'm glad it's Duffy rather than Fegan. Fegan is just too aggressive at getting his clients more money than they are worth. See Erick Dampier.