Incoming owner Joe Lacob did interviews on radio and TV on Tuesday and revealed some of his thoughts on the Warriors. According to Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News, Lacob said he will be very active on the basketball side of the organization. Lacob added that he liked the trade for David Lee and his $80 million contract. Futher, Lacob indicated he's not sure Don Nelson should coach the team this upcoming season, and that the club's salaries won't exceed the luxury-tax threshold. Kawakami wrote the following about potential trades: "Lacob sounded a lot more excited about Lee and Stephen Curry than he did about Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins. Nothing wrong with that. I wouldn't presume that these guys will definitely be traded. But it's also something everybody in the league will be watching." Source: SJ Mercury News
It doesn't mean Ellis, Biedrins and Nelson are out. It's Kawakami, Jake. Well, maybe one of them who isn't a player. Two out of three ain't bad .
Lacob was asked about making trades, and he said he couldn't name specifics, but that they are definitely looking at a few different bold moves before next season. However, he also said if those don't pan out, they can also stand pat. I think the biggest thing is he's been around one of the best franchises in the league (Boston), helping them make decisions, being a player on draft day in the draft room, and spending time at the facilities with those players. He knows what a good team looks like. What a PO potential team feels like. He also knows GS isn't really there right now. And that's okay. He's not promising fans anything, other than that he is going to do everything he can to get this team winning again. Frankly I think the bay area just stumbled upon the jackpot with this ownership.
Lacob is BIG on having a strong trio. Given this and his highest excitement for Curry and Lee, it must mean that Ellis and Biedrins and everyone else on the roster outside of Curry/Lee are expendable to find that perfect third man, which consequently could constitute to being a bold move. As long as they trade Ellis for someone on the same level or above then I can go with that. Maybe someone like Danny Granger fits that mold. I don't see Biedrins going anywhere unless if there is a legit big coming back. The Warriors are too thin up front right now. I will continue to assume Brandan Wright will be injured until he proves otherwise, so maybe I am a bit more concerned about depth in the front court than others though..
Let's see, the team is made the playoffs exactly once in the last 17 years, they won what 26 out of 82 last year? I'm thinking Cleaning House is the prudent course of action.
We had a shot at Amare Stoudemire, so I can see the Warriors putting together a deal for Carmelo Anthony. He would become our go to guy. However, we have to see how AB does this year. If he has a great year, then it would make me think twice about trading him. I agree that we need someone who can replace AB if he goes, but we don't have anyone at this point.
Another nice FA class next year; Melo, Nene, Yao, David West, Przybilla, Carl Landry, Shane Battier, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Andrei Kirilenko are all unrestricted. RFAs include Greg Oden, Marcus Thornton, Marc Gasol, Joakim Noah, Al Horford. My absolute dream scenario would be to land Duncan somehow and play him at C next to Lee but I can't see him and SA ever divorcing one another. They can be shrewd but look at how they value Ginobili, Duncan is THE MAN in San Antonio, I doubt hes going anywhere and I doubt he wants to leave. Yao is unrestricted though and I can see potential mutual interest from both sides. Hes a huge question mark with his foot issues though. There are a number of players who would be really great additions in that class. Again though, I'm not a huge fan of rationing cap space for years to potentially land some FA. That being said, we've made some moves that get us cap space in a year. I don't see any opportunity to get a big impact player any time this offseason but if the trade deadline doesn't offer too much for us then I'd be all for just letting those contracts expire and going into the offseason with some money.
Many of these players (AK47, Yao, Oden, Pryzbilla, Nene) are extremely injury prone. But that is not a bad free agency group. I don't know if we want to chance it though and end up like the Nets and many other teams.
I would look at anything that answers the question "how can we build around Steph Curry?" It's a similar question to building around Nash. You want guys who can run the floor, you want big men with good hands (and good eyes so they don't get blindsided by a no-look pass!), and you want some shooters to stay out on the perimeter and let the assassin slice and dice circles through the painted area. Collapse the defense, kick it for an open three. Defense stays home, dice em up and hit floaters, bank shots and open big men for dunks and alleyoops. There you go. So who fits that mold? Honestly, I think Beans fits very well. He was money with Baron. Super sticky hands, great IQ, no turnovers, excellent on the pick and roll. The last 1.5 years though, he began looking pretty ordinary. However, he's so young, I think he can bounce back from it and become a force again. If GS has a coach who would be willing to play Lee/Beans together (little chance of that with Nellie IMO), then you gotta keep Beans. Beans and Lee are two of the most appropriate players in the league for this particular roster -- that is, with Steph Curry. Even with half the stats, Beans is more valuable on this roster than a guy like Al Jefferson would be. Pick and roll, get open, get ready, and clean it up. Whereas Al wants the ball to go through him, and slows everything down. However, the real question here is does Monta fit? Can he be that "third guy?" My answer, as much as I loved him his first few years in the league, is no. The last 1.5 years, I've began to like him less. That youthful sincerity for the game was part of what was great about him -- the little underdog who could. Now, however, he's a walking tattoo, sporting the bling, and acting like he is a rap star. Does that matter on the court? Well, a bit. His approach to the game has changed. In part because of the coaching staff. The PG experiment wasn't good for his game, IMO. He was great with Baron off the ball, alleyoops, the 1-man fast break, cutting back door. But trying to be the man, it's kind of silly. He's turnover prone and doesn't have good handles. You can't be the man just because the staff tells you you are. You're either the man, or you aren't. It just doesn't fit Monta very well. He needs to give that up and accept what most other people already know -- Steph Curry is the man! The problem with that is I just don't see him making that transition very well. And even if he did, then the question is: does he fit best with Curry? And, IMO, no. To build around Curry, at the SG position, I think there are two elements that are the most important. First, a knockdown shooter from three. Second, a bigger SG who plays tough defense. Those are the two main qualities I'd look for. That's what Nash had. Raja Bell. The perfect complement to Nash. Stretched the D. And was tough enough to always guard the tougher of the two opposing guards, and let Nash take the easier guy. I'm not saying Curry is a wimp, but he needs to conserve his juice to be the floor general. You don't want him banging all day and chasing and scrapping and wearing himself out because he has to guard a bigger guy. I mean, even with Monta, he still does guard the smaller player, but if you have a bigger SG, then at least you won't have two defensive mismatches. I do love Monta on the fast break and stuff, but if his value in the league right now is as high as I think, I'd let him have a great start to the season and then trade him for a better fit.
Like Alley Oop said I'm all for getting that third piece whatever way it is. This is just one possible way. As for Monta, I think hes a pretty damn good SG and IF he can take on a role like what he had next to Baron I do think it can work. IMO hes adequate defensively going up against SGs and we all know the efficiency he is capable of playing off the ball. Hes better now than he was back when he played with Baron too. Sounds like Lacob doesn't see him as being a core guy but I think he'll be given the chance to show whether he is or isn't. And with Beans I'm excited to see if he can return to form because on paper it looks like a great fit alongside Curry and with him and Lee we should rebound well for once. Lets hope hes healthy. The question I have with him is whether at some point we would rather get a larger guy in there. All the best teams in the league have great size at PF/C. I like the Beans/Lee combo but I question how effective we can be with such a light C in the playoffs. That FA class has a lot of big C's available and I would have to consider trying to pick one of them up. Theoretically we'll have the money to keep Curry, Monta, Lee, Beans AND sign a big FA next offseason. But at some point we'll owe Curry a big contract. Seems like its inevitable that Monta or Beans has to go and maybe both do. Going along this line of thought I think it seems fairly likely that we move one of them at the trade deadline, maybe in a larger trade coupled with expirings, picks, prospects, etc. or maybe just a dump in anticipation of acquiring a player in free agency. Seems like Lacob's statements about the core and prediction that this team will struggle to make the playoffs indicate that his #1 priority is getting that last core player so they can start moving toward contention.
I do agree with AO that Monta doesn't fit into the long-term plans for the Warriors, but not because of his attitude or his effectiveness on offense. It's because of his contract and him being undersized. The defensive liability is obvious with Curry/Monta. And if you choose between the two, you obviously choose Curry. What Curry showed in one year, his rookie year, is better than what Monta showed in his best years (2007 and 2008). However, I do think Monta is just fine for the short-term. I believe he will play much better this season (less turnovers and better TS%) because he will learn to defer to Curry a bit more. Just as you said Biedrins has looked very ordinary the last 1.5 years, you could make the same case for Monta. And just as you said Biedrins is so young that he can improve, you could make the same case for Monta. The difference of course are the positions they play (and Biedrins is a little younger than Monta). But, I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that Monta couldn't return to his 07/08 form and maybe even better. I really don't buy into his attitude issues and I kinda think mentioning his tattoos is a bit of a cheap shot. While I won't excuse Monta's poor decisions in the recent couple years, I think he grew a lot too. The interview he had with Fitz at the end of the season was pretty telling. And yes, I do realize that the interview was total Warrior PR controlled and Fitz patronization, but I think Monta's not well-spoken enough to be able to elaborate/explain things on his own. Last year's drama was pretty complex and Monta did get a lot of mixed signals, whether direct or indirect, so I don't really blame him given his inability to speak well in public.
While I agree with Lacob about having three guys to make a run for the championship, I rather see how Curry and Lee play together first and under a new coach. Also, I want to see a big team play together and not small ball. That means, getting rid of Don Nelson (I know you guys saw that coming ) and try to hire someone who will play the players on a regular basis and not emphasize matchups so much. I would give Keith Smart a chance because there isn't anybody like a Scott Brooks, Mike D'Antoni, Avery Johnson or Doc Rivers out there right now. The coaching search will take a while. I'm not a fan of college coaches for the NBA, but if its someone like Tom Izzo it may be okay. I dunno. And what about a new GM? He'll have some input on a new coach and direction, so it will be two processes in one. It would be nice if Lacob had someone in mind for GM already. As for Monta and AB, I don't think their contracts are that bad. Monta produced well last year and hopefully AB will go back to being his old self as he comes back from injury and a horrible season. Even then, it would be tough to trade AB because we don't have anyone to take his place. Bottom line, I want to see them play together and then let the chips fall where they may. Whether they work together or not should not take that much time under a stable coach. We know what these guys can do.
I think it is kind of interesting that the Warriors started last season with the starting line up of Curry, Ellis, Jackson, Turiaf, Biedrins. http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200910280GSW.html The next game Nelson went with Randolph and Biedrins in the front court to start the game. Then there were a bunch of injuries and suddenly the only big men on the actual roster were Mikki Moore and Turiaf. With that kind of a roster and players to play with, it's hard not to lean toward small ball. But perhaps there was some initial effort to play a more normal style of ball. Anyway I guess I am on the fence, more so than most everyone else on being ok with Nelson as head coach (most likely there was a lot I missed the last season or two seasons because the franchise was not worth giving attention to, so I really did not follow closely these past two seasons) But I would still like to have him around as a talent evaluator of sorts. I think he's been pretty good in that regards.
Yes. With all the key injuries the Warriors have had, I'd take a look at firing that trainer of ours, too
I would love to target Marc Gasol for the Warriors. This guy is young and improving (pretty much all his stats improved the last year, even per minute) and has legit size to play center. Memphis has shown interest in Ellis (big time scorer with local appeal), and while they may like Gasol, he's a restricted free agent next year, so Memphis may fear they either have to pay him too much or lose him anyway. If they could pick up Xavier Henry in the deal (who has been hesitant to sign with Memphis), so much the better. Here's what I would propose: Warriors trade: Ellis Biedrins Top-5 protected future first rounder (if necessary) Grizzlies trade: Gasol Henry To make that happen, they'd have to sign and trade Gasol for something like $13.5M-$14M per year. That's a lot, but for a young, skilled center with size, it's not outrageous. Or, they could include another player (Memphis has lots of mid-level salaried players) to get that salary down, or just make Gasol's contract frontloaded (declining). That gives the Warriors a front line that can hold their own with most NBA teams, which they haven't had for many years and, even with Lee, they do not have right now. If you haven't noticed, good centers are hard to find in the NBA. Basically Gasol is a straight upgrade to Biedrins in every dimension (even a healthy Biedrins), and while Henry cannot replace Monta directly, he does give the Warriors a young, scoring guard who can bang the 3 at a high % (another thing the Warriors need with Morrow and Azu departing), but with much better size (6-6, 220) to pair with Steph Curry. Gasol | Gadzuric | Udoh | Hunter? Lee | B. Wright | Udoh | Tolliver? D. Wright | Williams | Henry Henry | Williams | Lin Curry | Pargo | Lin
That's a tempting one... there are pros and cons... If Beans can regain his old form, he can come close to what Gasol does now (close, but not quite). For a flat $9 mils each season, though, that would be a super value. And then it's Monta v. Henry, I love Henry, but right now he's all potential... Gasol for $14 mils is too much, I love his game, he's going to be almost as good as his brother IMO, but right now he's not quite there yet and $14 mils is franchise money... Now, if you could just do 1 for 1, like Monta for Gasol (lol), then hell yeah! Or Beans + Filler for Gasol. But of course that is ridiculous... On the other side, the pros, you get the super promising Gasol to pair with Lee, as you say, and you get to take a chance with Xavier Henry and see what he's got... It's juicy, but it would depend on A) If Beans can become a force again or not, and B) How much $$ an extension for Gasol would cost (I guess there's no way to know that until after the trade though).
I agree AO, it's risky. But I'd rather have a strong front court and a young but promising back court than a weak front court and an ill-fitting back court. I think both teams get something they need out of this trade. I'd also like to get Gasol for only one of the two, but Monta is the one they want and you have to give them a decent replacement for Gasol. Gasol and Henry are really the only two players on Memphis who interest me.
What about trading for Yi Jianlian? I heard he's really improved. He'd be a good fit on the Warriors. Wonder if Washington would take Brandon Wright? http://www.truthaboutit.net/2010/08...: TruthAboutIt (Truth About It - Washington W
