Warriors sign Maggette for $55M/$11 per in 2008. Shawn Marion, a perfect Nellie ball guy, is scraping to get a contract over the mid-level, $5.6 (rumor is $36 for 4). Damn, even David Lee could be had for $11M per right now with no match from the Knicks. Nice foresight by the Warriors last summer.
I'm not really upset about either of those. Lee at 11 mil a year? Eff that, Beans is similar, taller, 3 years younger, and earning 9 mil a year. Marion has been just ok without Nash and would only take up Randolph and Wright's minutes at PF. We could have had a shot at Hedo for similar money though. Or Kidd I guess? I don't think cuban would have let him go though no matter how much we offered.
I was pointing out Marion/Lee v. Maggette. I'm telling you Marion/Lee 5 years from now on the last legs of their contract will be better than Maggette next year. Marion is a glue guy, everyone could use him.
Yes, it's no secret that Mags contract was bad. It was a knee-jerk reaction to losing Baron. It was really a panic move, IMO, and was such a waste of an ace-card. That cap space is pure gold, man, and the Warriors used it on Maggette as if they were going to lose it the next morning anyway. As far as Jax, yes, worst chess move in NBA history, regardless of how he does post-contract, it just shows pure ignorance as far as how to be a pro GM. It was like Rowell basically telling the rest of the league, "okay folks, I don't know what the fuk I'm doing." And everybody laughed.
Maggette makes Varejao look like Tim Duncan. Varejao actually makes his teammates better, rebounding, setting a screen, hustling to get a loose ball, blocking the shot. I'd take Varejao anyday.
David Lee + Biedrins on the floor together would be awesome. Never will we get killed on the boards. But then Nelly will probably sit Biedrins and play Lee at center. Doh! I agree our timing sux because our front office people are just ridiculously foolish. That's why history repeats itself when it comes to the Warriors... and warriors fans.
Ended up being incentive-laden deal, so that number is a bit inflated. His base deal is around $38 million, 5 years guaranteed, 6th year at about 9 million, team option. At 5 years, 38 million, that's an average of 7.5 million per year, still quite overpaid, but less than Maggette's 5 year, 50 million deal. Varejao contributes to more wins to his team than Maggette has (about 5.5 to 2 according to basketballprospectus). With the $17 million in space we had last year, we could have likely landed two impact players for our team. Azubuike and Turiaf were more than reasonable signings at 3 and 4 million, but that's it. I wish we had went after Childress instead of Maggette, because at 5 years younger, he is as a much better defender/glue guy with a chance to keep improving, plus he also would have went cheaper - probably $7 million a year or less, since he left for Europe at just over $6 million with taxes paid and incentives. Plus, we could have probably had an excellent shot at Millsap, or Lee, or Marion, or Ariza, or Sessions, among other players for $8 million a year - STILL less than Maggette, and all players who are better passers, defenders and rebounders. (Well, Lee is asking for $10 million but maybe we could have done a sign and trade or maybe the market won't sustain his level of demand, because even the Knicks are being penny-pinchers). But, I should stop sounding so bitter and just keep hoping for wise moves in the future.
