Okay, so the draft is over, the pre-draft trades are done, here we are. Let's make this the official summer FA thread. So, what does the GS situation look like, and what do you think there plan is? Our current roster is pretty full: 7 Kelenna Azubuike SF 26 6-5 220 Kentucky $3,100,000 34 Charlie Bell SG 31 6-3 200 Michigan State $3,602,960 15 Andris Biedrins C 24 6-11 240 $9,000,000 30 Stephen Curry PG 22 6-3 185 Davidson $2,710,560 8 Monta Ellis SG 24 6-3 180 $11,000,000 50 Dan Gadzuric C 32 6-11 245 UCLA $6,749,260 19 Devean George SF 32 6-8 235 Augsburg $1,600,000 31 Chris Hunter F 25 6-11 240 Michigan $632,455 22 Anthony Morrow SG 24 6-5 210 Georgia Tech $736,420 77 Vladimir Radmanovic SF 29 6-10 235 $6,466,600 4 Anthony Randolph PF 20 6-10 210 LSU $1,837,560 44 Anthony Tolliver C 25 6-9 243 Creighton $427,316 21 Ronny Turiaf C 27 6-10 250 Gonzaga $4,140,000 23 C.J. Watson PG 26 6-2 175 Tennessee $1,000,497 55 Reggie Williams SF 23 6-6 210 $118,435 32 Brandan Wright PF 22 6-10 210 North Carolina $2,671,440 Ekpe Udoh Of the above roster, the bold players already have a contract in place for the upcoming season. The non-bold players do not have any contract yet. Could be FA, RFA, or D-Leaguers, or retirees. Here is the Warriors' salary situation (hoopshype is my favorite): http://hoopshype.com/salaries/golden_state.htm Also of note is that Raja Bell is off the books and probably won't be back. Bad-Vlad has a player-option for $6.8 mils. Do you think he'll take it or do you think he'll opt out and test the FA waters? yes that's a joke Morrow ($1 mils), Azubuike ($3.4 mils), Gadzuric ($7.2 mils) and Reggie Williams (~$1 mils) are all in their last year. When bad Vlad takes his PO, he'll also ($6.8 mils) be in his last year. So that is an additional whopping $19.4 mils that will come off the books next year. That's a hefty chunk of change for 2011. In addition, some of those players could be used as deal-sweeteners this summer, as they are expiring contracts. So, the guaranteed players for GS right now are: Kelenna Azubuike Charlie Bell Andris Biedrins Stephen Curry Monta Ellis Dan Gadzuric Anthony Morrow Vladimir Radmanovic Anthony Randolph Ronny Turiaf Reggie Williams Brandan Wright Ekpe Udoh I'm assuming Ekpe gets signed soon. So that's a 13 man roster right there. 12 plus 1 injured reserve. We only have 2 spots left for injured reserve. Here are the guys who were with us this past year and who have yet to sign anything: Devean George Chris Hunter Anthony Tolliver Raja Bell CJ Watson Does anyone know how much PG Charlie Bell can play? Because otherwise you have to imagine Don Nelson is going to push hard to get his little buddy CJ Watson back for another year of back-up PG. So out of the above 5, which 2 come back? How much will CJ cost, will it be worth it, and will GS pay for it? If so, they will be forced to choose between Tolliver/Hunter, because the other guy is probably not going back to the NBDL given their good showings this year. BTW, does anyone know if and when we can trade Gadzuric/Bell? Can Gadzuric be used during summer to sweeten a deal (he's 7 mils exp)? This of course assumes there will be no other roster moves over the summer. But that's where you come in. What do you think GS will do? Riley has been pretty vocal about "exploring" all trade options, but then again he also said Randolph is basically untouchable, so who really knows what he means. I'm not sure if he himself knows what he means. But as it stands, it looks like the Warriors have a guaranteed salary of $55.5 mils for next year. After Ekpe, it will be something like $58.5 mils. The projected NBA salary cap for $2010-2011 is 56.1 mils. So GS will already be over the cap. I have to imagine, then, that GS is still looking to trim more cash off the payroll. Cohan sure as hell doesn't want to pay luxury tax for a team he won't be with much longer. Gotta wonder what Riley's motivations are. Does he answer solely to Cohan, or do the minority owners (who will still be here if Ellsion buys) have a say? Because the minority owners would want GS to improve. While Cohan wants to pocket cash. Does Riley have to listen to Cohan? You have to at least give him the benefit of the doubt that he's not just looking to sell all players, that he is looking to improve the team. What do you think GS will do over the summer? What should they do?
We should bring CJ "Elementary, my dear" Watson and both Anthony "Three Worlds of Gulliver" Tolliver and Chris "Big Game" Hunter back assuming Tolliver and Hunter are cheap. We should always be able trade big men who can play in the NBA.
Both Charlie Bell and Gadzuric can be traded now. I know you didn't ask it, but Raja Bell was waived, so he's unrestricted, a cheap, but dumb move. July 7th is when we can trade RFAs. http://www.nba.com/features/freeagentpreview_050706.html Riley's trying to keep his job like Rowell and Nelson. They need to be fired immediately. I hope I made my case in another thread comparing him to Sam Presti.
Bell is an adequate guard, although he's really more of a short shooting guard (not a combo guard - he was a good defender, and while he's a good ballhandler, he's not a natural playmaker/distributor - he prefers to just move the ball along). Maybe like the kind of guy you'd find in a triangle offense, though I don't think he's ever played the triangle. His numbers have been in decline, but he's still likely to see minutes at the end of the rotation, probably 10-15 unless there's an absolute mandate to play the young guys. I don't see Watson coming back, I think Watson will make something in the 3 million range this year, which will push him beyond the money-saving Warrior pockets. I'm not sure what GS should do. Or rather, I think GS should do basically nothing. Now that Maggette is gone, there's cap space available. While I wouldn't mind trying to trade depth for quality, the reality is that this kind of trade just doesn't look like it'll happen. By just staying the course, we'll have enough cap space next season to do something, potentially. As far as Riley and Cohan, Cohan has the final say on all decisions as the majority owner. Unless there was absolutely no justification to Cohan's decision (saving money usually counts - he'd have to do something pretty crazy) - the minority owners don't have much say. I expect Cohan to do nothing as well, except sign more D-Leaguers in the case on injury.
I think it's pretty clear after looking at his moves. He's trying to move contracts. His motivation is to hold on to his position, or at least make a name for himself as someone who can clean up a mess. I'm not a Riley guy, but you can't argue with his clean up skills. Whomever comes in should have a fairly clean slate to work with. Especially if the Biedrins-Martin deal is true. The only move left to make is a trade deadline move to push Monta + others out.
We're not sure what GS should do because there is no plan in place. Riley is having a fire sale. If he was thinking about the future, he would be stockpiling picks or be trying to get young vets back. Instead, he's been getting cash for them. If CJ can command $3 M+ and a multi-year deal from a team like Orlando, then we should try to sign and trade for him. Try to get a pick and expiring contract back. Isn't that what Orlando offered last year -- a second round pick, a young player and cash to boot? That was a great deal, but Riley turned it down! The bad part is CJ is unrestricted now, so he does not have to help the Warriors. I can't blame him. Since CJ has worked out well for the Warriors at both PG and SG, I rather give CJ the money and the multi-year deal and keep him. He's 26 and one of the players whom Nelson gives minutes to. Look at Ramon Sessions. He got a four-yr deal starting at $3.67 M. If we go the trade route or just let him go, then we need to get a decent backup PG. Most likely from the D-League. I guess Charlie Bell would be the third backup PG.
Well, if we lose Watson, then really Bell will be the only other PG option because Monta plays SG next to Curry. And if Bell can't play point, that basically leaves this team with only one PG in Curry. So I have to imagine GS does something to try to address the PG issue, even if they are having a fire sale.
Well, Bell has played point for a while and has even been a spot starter at point, but in terms of pure PG-ability (passing, playingmaking), Bell is about as good at is as Derek Fisher, I'd say. Take from that what you will. As far as other PG options: on the summer league team, GS has brought in Jeremy Wise and Ben Woodside who both can play the point. Both are longshots and in the mid-20 age range already, so basically lacking too much potential; Wise is probably the more likely player to play in the NBA of the two. Woodside is an amazing offensive player, especially deadly from long range, but has major defensive flaws. (I'd rather go with Blake Ahearn, if we wanted that.) Wise went from college to the D-League, playing on the Bakersfield Jam, and is an athletic combo guard type; like Woodside, defense is not his friend, although he's got better physical tools. Other young PG options? Jerome Randle and Sherron Collins were both undrafted. Randle is playing on the Washington summer league team (behind Wall, I wonder if he'll get any minutes) but I didn't see Collins anywhere in the Las Vegas League; he might be playing elsewhere or going overseas? If none of these guys impresses though, likely we'll just stick with Bell and feed him heavy minutes, unless an injury takes place.
LOL. I knew it. Charlie Bell, NBADL or NBA draft third round prospects. What third round? Answer: If the NBA brought the third round draft back, then these guys would be draft prospects . Even Kevin Pritchard who lost his job at Portland was a better GM than Larry Riley. SEASON 2010-11 Draft 2010 Selected guards Elliot Williams (22nd overall pick) and Armon Johnson (34th overall pick). Traded forward Martell Webster to the Minnesota Timberwolves for forward Ryan Gomes and the draft rights to forward Luke Babbitt. SEASON 2009-10 June 25 2010 Fired as general manager. June 21 2010 Traded the 44th overall pick in the 2010 draft and cash to the Golden State Warriors for the 34th overall pick in the 2010 draft. June 18 2010 Exercised the contract option on director of NBA scouting Michael Born and director of college scouting Chad Buchanan through 2010-11. April 20 2010 Signed center Marcus Camby to a contract extension. March 16 2010 Fired vice president of basketball operations Tom Penn. March 3 2010 Signed guard Travis Diener. February 16 2010 Traded guard Steve Blake, forward Travis Outlaw and cash to the Los Angeles Clippers for center Marcus Camby. January 8 2010 Signed forward Shavlik Randolph to a 10-day contract. January 6 2010 Waived forward Shavlik Randolph. December 30 2009 Signed forward Shavlik Randolph. December 29 2009 Waived forward Anthony Tolliver. December 17 2009 Signed forward Anthony Tolliver. October 22 2009 Signed forward LaMarcus Aldridge to a contract extension and waived forward Ime Udoka and center Jarron Collins. October 16 2009 Signed guard Patrick Mills and exercised the contract options on guards Rudy Fernandez and Jerryd Bayless, forward Nicolas Batum and center Greg Oden through 2010-11. September 25 2009 Signed forward Ime Udoka. September 17 2009 Signed forward Juwan Howard. September 15 2009 Named Hersey Hawkins player development director. September 8 2009 Signed forward Jeff Pendergraph. August 21 2009 Signed forward Dante Cunningham. August 6 2009 Signed guard Brandon Roy to a contract extension. July 24 2009 Signed guard Andre Miller. July 10 2009 Exercised the contract option on head coach Nate McMillan through 2010-11 and signed forward Paul Millsap to an offer sheet. Draft 2009 Read more: http://hoopshype.com/general_managers/kevin_pritchard.htm#ixzz0s1e5cRRZ I will be doing this as a public service for Golden State Warriors fans. You can pick out your GSW leftovers here. Jeremy Lin anyone? He went to Harvard: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/prospects
I blame Cohan more than Riley in this case. Cohan's the one not wanting to pay for quality. Just like Allen is willing to pay for quality. On top of that, Portland, Pritchard is still widely regarded as an excellent GM, it was just personality issues I believe that led to his firing. That Webster/Babbitt and Gomes trade was really good, too. Both those players are quality. We probably could have made that trade too if we tried harder. On the other hand, Riley still gets points for how little he gave up to move Maggette, especially in comparison to Chicago giving up a draft pick for moving Hinrich.
Collins will be playing for the Bobcats summer league team. http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/67450/20100625/sherron_collins_gets_shot_with_bobcats/ BTW, is there a link with rosters for all of the summer league teams?
Charlie Bell and Dan Gadzuric cannot be traded until August 22nd. There is a two-month restriction on all new acquisitions via trade. They were acquired June 22nd.
Thanks DK. So, preseason starts in October, and I think many are assuming that the team will be sold by then. So these two guys (at least Gadzuric whose contract is somewhat attractive as exp) could be part of a summer trade, but perhaps not until a new owner has come in. Good to know. I say that because current ownership has little use to part with Gadz, who will just expire and sve $$, but a new owner who wants to win might see him as a good piece to add to a bigger deal. I hope whatever new owner comes in is aggressive in trying to make this team better before the start of the season. That would be a dream scenario. If Riley is left in place, he can just fill the new owner in on all of his summer findings, and then the owner can let Riley continue to work. It would be funny, though, because Riley would have to flip his thinking cap around 180, from "sell all contracts and free up as much $$ as possible" to "go land a top FA and make this team better!" Although the new owner might not have that philosophy, but if it's Ellison, then... BTW, who do you think will stay with the organization after the sale? Do you guys think it's a given that Riley will be let go, or might a buyer like Ellison want to keep him around? (after all he's already been doing the legwork for GS all summer, why bring in someone with no knowledge of the situation right before the season?)
CJ Watson helped win some games last year but he's not really necessary now that Bell is here. They are kind of the same, "combo" guards who can shoot a little and have some size. (I recall someone once said "show me someone who can do two (or more) things and I'll show you someone who cannot do one thing great. That's what a combo is, someone who is not good at either the 1 or 2.) Watson is a horrible PG in terms of handling the ball, penetrating and setting others up. His best move is dribble down and pull up for a J. I'd like to keep Tolliver, I remember that game where Amare took over at the end but up until then, Tolliver was playing very tough. He fights for rebounds and can score a little.
Watson really won me over last year. Yeah hes not much of a dribble penetrator, assist man, or on ball defender. But as a backup PG I thought he ran the show adequately, pushed the pace, shot the ball GREAT both from 3 and mid-range, when he does get to the rack he gets fouled or finishes and hes turned into one of the best ball hawks in the league. Don't know a ton about Bell but I think hes a good scorer (despite the poor FG%'s) and I hear he plays good defense. More of a SG. CJ isn't a pure PG but he plays smart and with few mistakes. And yeah I liked both Tolliver and Hunter. Tolliver is especially redundant now even though he showed he can play last year. There's just no room between AR, Wright, Udoh, Vlad, etc. Hunter was inconsistent but he had good size and bulk and had some decent skill. There's really not much room for him either and definitely not if we keep Gadzuric.
I agree, I think CJ has been clutch for the Warriors at PG. He has hit many big shots at big times (despite the fact there were few "big" games in GS). The only issue I've had with CJ is his phantom defense, where he prefers to go for every steal possible to mask the fact that his man would otherwise have his way with CJ. But I think his D has improved somewhat. He appears to have gotten a bit stronger, which helps. But when he was called up 2 1/2 years ago, CJ was torching the D League, 26 ppg, 6 apg, 5.5 rpg, 51% FG, 40% 3PT FG, and 89% FT. He is capable of going off offensively, so to speak. And I do think he has fit better at PG this past year. Nelson really, really likes him, so at least we know the comfort level is already there. I don't know if Bell can be the same type of player. Again, this is only an issue if GS actually wants to win. If they're just tanking and trying to cut contracts, hell I guess Turiaf could play point.
CJ is fine for a Nellie team because he's so wacked out he wants unconventional guys, point forward, gunner PGs, absolutely no D. But I want more, I want a team built for the long haul, some promise of being able to compete at the top level, like Oklahoma City. CJ does not fit that except for providing some limited minutes maybe. I'd rather have a Brevin Knight type, say Ronnie Price (?) in Utah. CJ is yet another shooter in a PG body, not a PG in a PG body. As for Tolliver, I like him but I realize that the promise lies in what Wright and Randolph and Udoh can do, not Tolliver.
Here's a few random tidbits from Hoopshype.com: The Hawks are reportedly shopping Marvin Williams, and the Warriors were mentioned in the grapevine as a potential suitor. But multiple sources told me the there is nothing to it. Golden State had conversations about Williams a while ago. But they aren’t in the market for a PF, after drafting Ekpe Udoh, especially not one on the books for $30 million over the next four seasons. (Personally, I’d much rather trade for Josh Smith, who has three years, $37M left. Since the Hawks are giving Joe Johnson the max, and they still have to re-up Al Horford next offseason, they might be willing to move Josh.) Contra Costa Times Another report said Denver is going after Warriors center Andris Biedrins. One source told me the Warriors have talked to Denver, but they aren’t really interested in what Denver has to offer (save for Carmelo) or any of the packages Denver has proposed. Contra Costa Times Yes, the Warriors made a call to Mike Miller’s agent, Arn Tellem, but that will likely be the end of it. Miller is drawing significant interest around the league and seems certain to be offered more than the mid-level. That takes the Warriors out of the running, unless we’re talking sign-and-trade, which is remote. CSNBayArea.com There was a report out of Denver that the Nuggets are trying to “pry” Andris Biedrins from the Warriors in a deal that would include Kenyon Martin. That’s not going to happen for a number of reasons. First, it is unlikely that the Warriors will trade Biedrins unless they get a center back. Plain and simple, it would be risky to head into the season with Ronny Turiaf, who was banged up a lot of last year, and little-used Dan Gadzuric as the top two centers. CSNBayArea.com Bruce Arthur: Looks like Phoenix and Golden State were both interested in Amir Johnson, per @gswscribe and @paulcoro. Twitter Alex Kennedy: The Magic have called about restricted free agent C.J. Watson but will wait several days before beginning serious talks with any players. Twitter
Here's one (granted, it's from the NYP which is like the Enquirer): But if that was going down, why wouldn't the Warriors just do Monta for David Lee directly? I know he's a PF and Jeff is a C, so maybe that's it, but Lee is a better player...
