Anthony Tolliver choosing between rock or hard place, er, Warriors or Wolves

[truebluefan]

Anthony Tolliver says he wants to choose by this weekend which struggling franchise he is going to play for next year.

We'll, that's not how he put it to the News-Leader, but when you are choosing between Golden State and Minnesota it is the reality.

"I haven't made a decision yet," Tolliver said, "but we're getting there and I hope to have a decision soon.

"Once they have their final (financial) figure and years guaranteed, that's when I plan on making my decision --unless somebody comes in late," he added.

The Warriors let Tolliver go because they had plenty of frontcourt depth, then they sent Anthony Randolph and Ronny Turiaf to New York in the David Lee swap. So they could use Toliver again.

But Golden State is a mystery -- a new owner is coming in, the old coach (Don Nelson) is going out. Who knows what system they will be running. Who knows what kind of run Tolliver would get under the to-be-named coach.

Minnesota is just a team without a plan. They have some nice players, but none outside of Kevin Love seem a really good fit with the triangle offense they are supposed to be. They are overloaded at the four. GM David Kahn's next move is likely to be random.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.c...medium=twitter

[HiRez]

The Ws could really use him, I just wonder what figure he's after. If it's $3-4M per year then forget it, if it's half that then it'd probably be a good signing.

[AlleyOop]

The crazy thing is he actually put up some very impressive numbers with GS. 12.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, and shot 33% from three. On paper, this is an up and coming prospect who produced in his first year. Those stats are better than a decent amount of other starters in the league right now.

I think it's just we being the fans who watched him all year kind of know that's about his ceiling, he's a decent bench energy PF but not a future starter (IMO), and that he's probably not worth more than $2 mils.... however, the numbers tell me I'm crazy, I mean his numbers are way better than Travis Outlaw, who just got 5 years $35 mils (wtf?)

I guess there's a premium on big men who can stretch the floor?

I guess if we fall out of the Amundson running, I'd give Tolliver $3.5 mils...

However, in the future, with these damn D-League players who get to use GS as a stepping stone, we should bring them in on conditional contracts, like "if you suddenly become a good player because we are the only ones who will give you PT, you can't suddenly turn your back on us and run for the money."

[Doctor Kajita]

However, in the future, with these damn D-League players who get to use GS as a stepping stone, we should bring them in on conditional contracts, like "if you suddenly become a good player because we are the only ones who will give you PT, you can't suddenly turn your back on us and run for the money."

I thought about this too. I was thinking there needs to be some sort of provision that allows us to retain these players at a reasonable cost. Or, the the team that signs them for more money owes a finder's fee or some sort.

OR

The Warriors could just not suck and have these no-names become something on a depleted, flawed, and injury ridden roster.

[jason bourne]

The crazy thing is he actually put up some very impressive numbers with GS. 12.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, and shot 33% from three. On paper, this is an up and coming prospect who produced in his first year. Those stats are better than a decent amount of other starters in the league right now.

I think it's just we being the fans who watched him all year kind of know that's about his ceiling, he's a decent bench energy PF but not a future starter (IMO), and that he's probably not worth more than $2 mils.... however, the numbers tell me I'm crazy, I mean his numbers are way better than Travis Outlaw, who just got 5 years $35 mils (wtf?)

I guess there's a premium on big men who can stretch the floor?

I guess if we fall out of the Amundson running, I'd give Tolliver $3.5 mils...

However, in the future, with these damn D-League players who get to use GS as a stepping stone, we should bring them in on conditional contracts, like "if you suddenly become a good player because we are the only ones who will give you PT, you can't suddenly turn your back on us and run for the money."

That's crazy for Tolliver. Tolliver only got his stats in garbage time when the game was long decided. He isn't worth it. He's bench fodder. Keeps the bench warm and get splinters up his butt. The Warriors pulled his qualifying offer when they were loaded with AR, Turiaf, BWright and Udoh. He's worth about little more than the qualifying offer of one year $1.025 M to about $1.2 M now. The only other team that wants Tolliver is the Minnesota Timberwolves who probably have more players than the league max. Why are they trying to add Tolliver? What a stupid team that is. The owner is another Christopher Cohan and David Kahn is like Rowell and Riley mixed together. If one looked up their familt tree, they may find they're related.

Anyway, $1.2 M for one year. That's a fair offer for garbage like Tolliver.

[Shapecity]

I think the Blazers were also in the running for him. I agree this should be a one year commitment by the Warriors. They have to keep the minutes available to Lee, Udoh, Beans & B. Wright

[HiRez]

If they don't overspend, I don't have a problem with a 2 year deal because he'd just be an expiring contract, or a reasonably priced option for some other team who needs a backup PF, which is lots of them. I don't think it'd be hard to move him and may actually add some flexibility as a piece to throw into a trade. Absolute worst case is we have to keep him for next year at $1.5M or whatever, that's not so horrible.

[jason bourne]

$4.8 M for two years. Can't blame him. Good luck Tolliver!

He posted on youtube

[HiRez]

LOL at that video! The wolf howl is just awesome.

Anyway, yeah, $2.4M per year is definitely too much, but good luck to him, I'm happy he got what he wanted. Seems like a good guy and he made the most of his opportunity.

Now the question is who do the Warriors pull in? Will it be Amundson (probably also asking too much), or does Nellie go fishing in the D-League again?

[AlleyOop]

I don't see how that's too much, based on his production in the time he has been in the NBA, that is a good deal for the Wolves. He played 44 games, and his numbers didn't come in garbage time -- he averaged 32 minutes per game. At 12 PPG / 7 RPG / 33% from three, that's good production over a long stretch (over half the season). Also, his production isn't likely to taper off. The question will be if he continues to get heavy minutes like he did in GS.

But it was the same case with Azu, people said he wouldn't continue on that pace he first set, and yet he just got better each year.

Good for Tolliver, I think he'll be a solid bench player for many years.

[Zhone]

Wow, that's alot more than I expected. They must have bumped the offer up a million for his youtube skills. Glad that the Warriors didn't overpay for him, and glad for Tolliver that he's raking in the dough, I always liked him (just not at that price). Can't see him getting a ton of minutes, though.

[CohanHater]

Nellie should take a cut from all of these D-League Salaries. They should erect a statue of him in front of every international and minor league arena.